A/N: Hi,everyone! It's been a while,sorry about that. Thanks for all the kind reviews that you've left. Now,I know that a lot of you out there were expecting some Lelouch and Anya scenes in the last chapter. I understand,since some of you out there read this fic for the sole purpose of finding some LelouchXAnya fluff. Don't worry,I will upload more fluffy chapters as the story progresses. Although,the future chapters won't be as fluff-concentrated as chapters 1,2 and 3 were. Now the reason why I didn't include any Lulu and Anya scene in chapter 4 and why I won't write more cheesy chapters is simple. If I continue to insert mushy chapters between Anya and Lelouch,then it would impede the progression of the storyline itself. I really don't want the plot of the story to remain stagnant. However,there is a rational explanation too. Since Lelouch was reminded of his destiny in the previous chapter,now he seeks to take action. He desires to protect Nunnally and Anya,since those two are the only ones left in Lelouch's heart. If you were in Lelouch's position,what would you do first? Court,hang out,and be all mushy with a girl whom you harbored feelings for,or take actions to ensure a better life and a better future for your younger sister and the girl you have feelings for? I think that a lot of you out there would choose the latter option,and that's what Lelouch will choose in this fic. I hope that this LOOONG note clarifies any confusion out there among you readers. If you have a question about the fic or whatsoever,please feel free to leave a review or just send me a private message and I'll get back at you. Well,I guess that takes care of that. And now,let's proceed with the story.
Chapter 5:Unveiled
I hurried to the Black Knights' HQ. Since this is a covert operation,I will need the best pilots that we have. I brought Rolo along with me and Jeremiah as well. Since Kallen isn't around to lead the Zero Squad,Jeremiah and Rolo's assistance should compensate for her loss. I squeezed out key intel out of Jeremiah and Rolo. It appears that the hideout was located somewhere near the vicinity of the middle eastern desert. Once I was finished talking to them,I ordered them to prep up their knightmares. I went to the command center and ordered the pilots to direct our course towards the middle eastern seaboard. When we were on our way,I went up to my private quarters and confronted C.C.. Since she used to be the leader of the order,I will have to ensure that she doesn't snitch on me.
"You were serious about the raid then." She said.
"Of course I am."
"What do you hope to accomplish from this?"
"To rid the world of the power of geass."
"How ironic,you want to rid the world of geass,yet you are a geass user yourself."
"That is why I want to rid the world of it! Geass is the power of the king,and there should only be one king! And that king...is me. I won't let anyone else endure the hell that I'm going through. No other human shall ever obtain the power of geass!"
"So you plan to exterminate the order as a result?"
"Yes. The members of the order are the people who circumnavigate around the world to establish contracts with humans. And it is just human nature to desire power beyond anything else. Subsequently,the power of geass shall be bestowed upon them,the power to have what they desire,the power of the king. But what they do not know is that they just took their own train to hell. I won't let the members of the order run around with their pernicious acts. No...no longer..."
"Are you saying that you will kill me as well?"
"No. You have deserted from the organization. But this time,I will need you on the battlefield."
"What?"
"This is the perfect opportunity for you to prove your loyalty to me. Have you really deserted the order? Or are you still with them? It is time to find out. We will mount an assault on the order shortly. And you,will lead our squadron."
"Very well then. I have no problem with that. I have long left the order,and I have no intentions of collaborating with them ever again."
"We shall see about that. Now go,prepare your knightmare."
"Understood." She got up to leave.
"Wait,C.C.,"
"Hm?"
"What is it that you want from me? When you established a contract with me,you mentioned something about repaying you. Repaying you what?"
"I have no intentions of discussing that with you."
"I see. Very willful woman..."
"That's why I am called C.C.."
I left the room and bumped into Jeremiah and Rolo. I ordered them to prepare a makeshift version of my room back in Ashford to use it as the background of our mobile command post that will be deployed on the battlefield. I will need to deceive V.V. while I track the exact coordinates of the hideout. Once I have pinpointed the exact location of the hideout,I will direct my forces to begin the raid. After taking care of that,I rallied up the members of the Zero Squad and briefed them about our mission. Shortly after the briefing,they went to their respective knightmares and prepared for the attack. As everyone was preparing,I sneaked around and planted a bomb inside Rolo's knightmare. He shall be the sacrificial lamb that will end V.V.'s life. For Shirley...
A few hours later,we arrived at the middle eastern seaboard. I instructed the pilots to hover around the beachhead until we have successfully raided the hideout. Anyways,there's no point in bringing our flagship along with us on the battlefield. When we reached the shore,I ordered our troops to be deployed. I got on my knightmare and headed out. Eventually,we reached the supposed location of the hideout. I stayed behind with Jeremiah and Rolo while I ordered the rest of the strike teams to advance and wait at the entrance.
With the help of the MCV,the command post was deployed on my exact location. The background exactly matched that of my room in Ashford. Excellent. I got off my knightmare and hid it along with Jeremiah's and Rolo's. I removed Zero's outfit and dressed as a normal student in Ashford. Once I was ready,I asked Jeremiah for the network code that matches the code that V.V. used to communicate with him. I typed in the code,and patched in a transmission. A few moments later,the transmission was patched through to the other side,and there,revealed V.V..
"Hello,V.V.."
"Lelouch?"
"You know of me then,so there's no point of introducing myself. I will jump straight to the point. Was it you who kidnapped Nunnally during the siege of Tokyo? Also,did you put Suzaku,I and the others on Kamine Island to observe us?" As I chatted with him,I tracked down his exact location using one of the trackers that we have. Once I find his exact location,he is dead.
"Yes,that is correct. But the fact that you are asking these questions means that you have regained your memories."
"Indeed I have. I am Zero."
"Then C.C. must be with you. May you hand her over? We promise to let you go if you do." Agh,this is taking too long. I guess that's why they chose to hide underground as to not get detected.
"It's too late for that. I hereby declare war on you with no mercy."
"Oh really? But by the time you get here from Area 11,we'll have already evacuated to another place." As he babbled,I finally tracked down his exact location. Bingo. I marked the coordinates in all unit's maps,and ordered them to bombard the place. When V.V. finished talking,the place quaked. "What?" The Zero Squad led by C.C. raided the place. "I see,so that's how it is." He said as he stood up.
"Yes,that's right. I'm glad that you gave me a bit of your time. You just had to let your guard down for a moment. Since you believed that I was in Area 11,you thought that you had time to escape. That's why you're trapped." While I was talking,the fake background fell and revealed that I was in a command post. Behind me stood Jeremiah and Rolo,glaring at V.V.. Too easy. "V.V.,the one who shall render judgement here,is me."
I boarded the Shinkirou and ordered Jeremiah and Rolo to join the raid. I myself went to the depths of the hideout and overlooked the assault. I couldn't help but smile. Die,you fallacious little fools. As I was hovering above the battlefield,I heard some units talk over the radio.
"These doesn't look like a britannian research facility."
"Yeah,these guys didn't even put up a fight. It seems that they have no weapons."
"Use extreme prejudice in dealing with these rats!" I interrupted. "These people have been collaborating with the Britannian Empire,creating immortal warriors to destroy us. I won't let them violate the very sanctity of life! The researchers and their data shall be wiped out. We don't know where the subjects of the immortal research are. Therefore,all units,encircle point Alpha-7 and destroy everything. Burn it to the ground! Any subjects to be found are to be sealed inside a high-pressure casing. I will investigate each one of them myself."
Chaos ensued. Utter destruction was bestowed upon those who were helping V.V. with his cause. Everything was going according to plan,but something caught my eye. It appeared to be a...knightmare? No...is that?
"Jeremiah,is that the unit that you were talking about?"
"Yes. It's the Siegfried. The only one who can use it except for myself is none other than..."
"I see." So the immortal one has shown himself eh? This should be interesting. "Jeremiah,Rolo,take a squadron with you and follow me. We'll retreat to topside. It'll be much easier to deal with V.V. with more range."
"Yes,your highness."
I took point and lead the others outside the underground compound. If we engage V.V. underground,we're as good as dead,and we'll get buried with the facility itself. Whereas on the skies,we have more range to cover. V.V. followed suit,everyone else went ahead and surrounded him. I don't know how we're gonna pull this off,but I'll take some chances.
"All units,fire at will!" I radioed. Everyone opened fire,unleashing a barrage of missiles and bullets. I charged the cannons of my knightmare and fired along. V.V.'s knightmare was engulfed in smoke as a result. We kept firing until we ran out of ammunition. A few minutes later,the smoke cleared up,and revealed V.V.'s Siegfried spinning like a top. When I looked closely,his knightmare was unharmed. What the hell? I guess I underestimated the Siegfried's power. I never knew that it could deflect incoming projectiles away from itself. Suddenly,I heard a childish titter over the radio.
"Is that the best you've got? I am very disappointed in you,Lelouch. I expected you to put up more of a fight than that. Oh well,time to end this little tousle right here." The Siegfried started to spin again,but this time,it fired homing missiles towards my forces.
"Evasive action!" I ordered. However,my order turned out to be futile. Half of our squadron was decimated by the Siegfried in less than a minute. This is not good. I have to take him out! And I think I just have the thing to take out that brat. "Rolo,listen up,I need you to get close to the Siegfried. Once you reach it,grab onto the knightmare,I have something that'll put an end to V.V.'s immortality."
"Understood,brother."
"Lelouch,this is C.C.,where are you?"
"I'm on a battle with V.V. as we speak. Listen,I want you to get out of here. Flee to safety,return to the flagship,if V.V. finds you,then everything I've done will amount to nothing."
"Affirmative."
"Hurry! He's coming for you!"
That should ensure that V.V. doesn't get his hands on what or in this case who he wants in case I don't make it out of here alive. Jeremiah,Rolo and the remnants of the strike team continued to engage V.V.. Rolo dodged the Siegfried's missiles and continued to work his way to its proximity while Jeremiah covered him. Rolo's geass is useless,he's gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way. However,on Rolo's way,he got hit a couple of times,and I wasn't sure if how much more damage he could sustain. Since Rolo won't accomplish his task with V.V.'s attention on him,I decided to play decoy for a bit. I fired my hadron cannons to catch V.V.'s attention. He took damage and turned his attention to me. Perfect. As he moved to engage me,Rolo grabbed onto the Siegfried. Impeccable timing,my little pawn.
"Brother,I've done it!" He said over the radio. Very well,Rolo. This shall be the price that you'll pay for all your sins. Geass will be no more,and so will be your very soul! I grabbed the detonator and placed my thumb on top of the detonation button. But,before I could detonate the bomb that I've hidden inside the Vincent,a massive line of fire hit the Siegfried,rattling it,and shaking the Vincent away in the process. Dammit...
"I am sorry,brother."
"It's okay." I'm going to have to deal with him later then.
I looked down at the source of the damage and found Cornelia. Oh? So this is where she's been hiding all along. Wait a minute,is she in allegiance with the order? I doubt it,since she wouldn't even try to kill V.V. if that was the case. I decided to put aside my petty hatred towards her. The Siegfried was shaken up,it obviously took an enormous amount of damage from Cornelia. She's got V.V. on the ropes,time to knock him out. I prepared the Zero Beam. Once it was armed,I launched the missile and fired the prism blast to annihilate the enervated immortal. My attack synced with Cornelia's as she unleashed another wave of gunfire at the Siegfried.
"No...I...I'm supposed to be immortal..." V.V. trailed. The Siegfried exploded and crashed on the platform below. He may be immortal,but I doubt that he is still mobile to even move a muscle.
"Jeremiah,Rolo,take the others with you and scour the area,I will personally confront V.V. myself."
"It's too dangerous,Prince Lelouch. No one knows what's down the depths of those hellholes."
"I can handle myself,Jeremiah. Hold this position until I return. If I don't return in 15 minutes,then return to the flagship with or without me."
"But-"
"Understood?"
"...y-yes,your majesty."
I descended into the depths of the research facility once again. When I landed,I shielded my eyes for a very bright light emanated from the distance. I tried to make out what was going on or what's behind all that light,but to no avail. Eventually,the light toned down,when I looked around,I saw a huge door,a double-door starting to open. However,it wasn't just any simple double-door,it bore the crimson sigil of geass itself. I looked a little southward and saw V.V. crawling towards the opening door. I averted my gaze to the door once again,to see where he was going,and that was when I saw a giant silhouette. I tried to look closer,but the light shone brightly again. Then,I felt something possess me,and I was no longer in control of my body. That was my last memory until I fell into unconsciousness.
The light cleared out once again,but this time,my vision was a hundred percent clean. Where am I? I looked around and all I saw was a yellowish mist. This place...it seemed...distant...and...deserted. I opened the cockpit of my knightmare and got down. I looked up and saw what appeared to be a small shrine. There were staircases that led to higher grounds. A booming voice however,snapped me out of my thoughts.
"It has been a long time,Lelouch,my prodigal son!" A voice,that could only belong to one man exclaimed.
I swiftly hid behind my knightmare before even uttering a word. What is he doing here? More importantly,what am I doing here? Does he have anything to do with this? The last thing that I saw was V.V. crawling towards a door. Is this place is what's behind that door he was crawling to? He was going to ask the emperor for assistance maybe? Without a doubt,that voice belonged to the emperor,I'll never forget that haughty tone of his.I knew that I wouldn't get any answers if I continue to nag myself about it,so why not ask the man in charge? I started off,with the question that was left untouched since the day Nunnally and I were exiled to Japan.
"Answer my question about eight years ago! Who was it that killed my mother?! And why didn't you protect her?! You knew that an assassination was bound to happen! You knew all of it! And yet,you just sat in your petty throne and watched her be killed by those wretched terrorists!"
"People are not equal."
"Wh-what?"
"The power of geass,the power of the king,use it to gain the answers you seek!"
He's challenging me. I know very well that I am not the only one with a geass power in this area. He's trying to subdue me,trying to deceive me into using my geass. If that happens,then it'll be like boarding a train that leads to oblivion. He will alter my memories and take what's most precious from me again. What do I do?
"What's wrong,Lelouch? Aren't you my son,a prince? Show me your strength!"
Curses...if I don't draw my pistol out first,then I'll surely lose this duel. To hell with that,I have no time to plan. I reached for a detonator and removed my contact lens. Let fate decide eh? I pressed the detonator,my knightmare fired a fragile projectile that scattered once it was airborne. Once the glass particles aligned with the emperor's sight,I casted my geass.
"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you,die!" My geass reflected off the glass particles to the emperor's eyes. I grabbed a shard from the wreckage to see if my geass worked on him or not. He nodded and pulled out a handgun. He aimed it at his chest and pulled the trigger. A few seconds later,he collapsed to the floor. I...did it? I killed him? I...I finally avenged my mother? It's too good to be true. But there he is,lying down,lifeless,and motionless. I went out of hiding,and stepped on the staircase. I couldn't believe it. I was overcome with emotion,neither joy nor grief. What I felt,was ineffable in nature. I grabbed my chest,to stop my heart from it's constant palpitation,and I screamed to release my emotions.
When I regained my composure,I went up the stairs to his side. I looked down at him. That moment,I felt as if I slayed a legend. I really won,didn't I? Pity,I had so many questions for him. He still held the answers that I sought to find. But,he is dead now,along with the answers that I so desperately wanted. Just when I was about to walk away,the unimaginable,became a reality.
"You fool..." My eyes widened at the sound of his voice. I turned to look back at him,aghast. "You really think that you can get rid of me with just a puny little bullet to my chest?"
"That's impossible! That bullet should've went exactly to your heart!"
"Nonsense! You are an epitome of impudence,you little brat! You think that a trick like that can kill me? You have the power of the king,don't you?! Well come at me like a king!" He boomed as he stood to face me.
"DIE!" I ordered once again as I casted my geass on him,but my geass was nullified.
"That is not a how a king does it!" I dashed past him and grabbed the pistol that he used to execute his facade. I shot him repeatedly in the chest. Multiple bullets penetrated his chest,and blood was oozing in his upper body,but he still lived.
"You insolent boy! I am beyond swords and guns now! Don't you understand?!" He took off his right glove and showed me his palm. No...his palm had the mark of geass...then he is...He grabbed me by the collar and threw me down the steps.
No...it can't be. He has the code now. I can't possibly win against him. He is immortal! That's why he didn't use his geass on me.
"I have gained a power that is beyond geass,that will allow me to accomplish more feats in aid to my cause. I,have become a code-bearer! I am now immortal! No one can stop me,and no one shall stop me! Let me show you the true nature of this world!" He cried as a pedestal emerged near his right hand. He placed his mark on top of the pedestal,and the spot where I was sitting glowed.
I was engulfed in a white light. All I could see were masks,white masks with red outlines. The mask also appeared to only have one eye. The light died down,and emerged what appeared to be the internal parts of a clock. A clock...which symbolizes time...but what is the meaning behind all this? He reappeared in front of me a few seconds later.
"What is geass,I want the truth!"
"How eccentric,a child who wrapped himself with lies desires the truth? Very amusing."
"The false name,the false identity of Zero,what has it brought you?"
"Everything! It brought me all things that normal people cannot obtain! Followers,territory!"
"You've lost Euphemia! Suzaku and Nunnally are also lost to your lies! You've lost the most important of people you've met in your life! What is it that you fight for? What is your worth now that you have lead your loved ones to oblivion?!"
"Shut up! I did what I had to do to survive! Everyone tells lies,no one is perfect enough to be faultless!" I retaliated. I was hearing voices. I knew that my father's voice was among them,but I couldn't make out to whom the others belonged to.
"You want others to know your true self,yet you only show them a false face!" An illusion of myself appeared behind the mask that was scattered around me. While I tried to fathom with what was happening,a myriad of other juxtaposes of myself appeared with masks on.
"You keep hiding behind masks!"
"You're afraid that they'll find out who you really are!"
"No!" My replicas started to vanish,and the emperor reappeared behind me. I faced-about to face him.
"In the end,your lies will lead to your ultimate demise. Because I am you,and you are me,all else is a delusion. Though there are worlds without end,there's one being in the past,in the future,and now,only one."
"What are you saying?"
"Charles," A voice started. I looked to my right and saw C.C. standing there as the background shifted itself for her entrance.
"C.C.?! I told you to get out of here!" Instead of answering,he turned his attention to my father.
"Play time is over. There's nothing in it for me now."
"What are you saying,C.C.?" I butted in.
"You don't have to cajole him like that to get me here. I already exist in this realm."
"True enough,C.C.. In that case,I shall grant your wish." Father answered.
"You know of C.C.'s wish?"
"Lelouch," C.C. turned to me. "It is time for you to know the terms of our contract. When I gave you your geass,I mentioned something about you granting me a wish in return. And that wish...is death."
"What are you saying?!" I can't let that happen,not to another person!
"In the final stage of geass,the user retains the position of the one who granted him power. Thus,you have gained the power to end my existence."
"To...end your existence? C.C..."
"Of all the people I have made contracts with,none has ever reached this point. But now there is Charles,he has done it."
"You mean you made your contract with me so that I could kill you in the end?"
"Correct."
"Why do you want to die?"
"It's providence,a boundary. Only when its end looms can we call it life."
"That's a lie! We call it life because we feel it!"
"Same thing. There is no life unless there is death."
"That's just bollocks,that's not real!"
"People die,that's what's real."
"Then why are we born,what's the purpose of it?"
"You know the answer. Those things are just delusion."
"No! Living just to die is just tragic!"
"Without death, all we have are random events, accumulation, you can't call that life! If you have a reason for living, then you have to kill me. Do that,and you'll be Charles' equal,you will be immortal,you will be able to accomplish your mission."
"I..." I started to tear up as I choke on my words. C.C. stood firm and eyed me nonchalantly.
"So,fare thee well,Lelouch." She said as a pedestal appeared near her right hand. She did the same gesture that my father did,and the pedestal lit up in a crimson hue. "You are too kind to end our contract." What? What is she doing?!
"Wait,I-" I was cut off as I was sucked into the depths of a maelstrom to who knows where. "ARGHHH! C.C.!" I shouted on top of my lungs before I faded into unconsciousness.
Sorry for this short chapter guys,it's just that I've been really busy lately. Our entrance exam is coming up in a few days,and I've been studying for our periodical exam. By the 21st of September,I promise you guys that I'll be updating A.S.A.P.,I just really need to focus. Well,no LelouchXAnya fluff for this chapter,and there will most likely be none as well in the next chapter,but I give you my word that I will still write some fluff between our main characters. For now,the plot advances,and I hope that the note above clears any predicament among you readers. Please continue to review,and stay tuned! Until the next time!