I don't own Code Geass.
Act I Part 3: Red Sands
Arabian Desert
That same day, noon
Iskandar, a young Arabic boy, ran through the merchant caravan to the back where the tent of the two new travelers was. He was carrying the travelers' share of water for the day. Inside the tent, the child was greeted the occupants.
One wore a white cloak over a black shirt and baggy black pants that tucked into boots. The other wore the same thing, only a blue and black variant. Both wore long cloths that covered their faces, but showed their eyes. Currently they were engaged in a game of chess, both had only the queen and king left.
They paid no attention to the youth until he spoke. "Your water," Iskandar said shyly.
The one in blue turned to look at the boy with his amethyst eyes. "We still have the water from yesterday," he said, "You should take that back."
The one in the white cloak spoke up, but did not look away from the game. "We should take what we can get."
"We're only guests here until we reach the next town," the blue one reminded his companion, pulling down the cloth covering his mouth and revealing his face.
"Doesn't mean we should die from dehydration."
Iskandar spoke up. "It's no trouble," he said, "Father said that as long as you are here, you will be treated equally amongst the caravan. You are safe with us."
"Why do you help us if you know who we are, again?" the one in white inquired, now looking at the boy with his intimidating ruby eyes. He too pulled down the cloth over his mouth. He looked awfully similar to the other companion except for his white hair with black streaks and tanner skin.
"Because my father believes in second chances," the boy responded, "And he does not see any bad in you two and as long as you help us, we'll help you."
Adam just huffed and returned to the chess board with Lelouch. "Draw," Adam said dryly. Lelouch only nodded and began to put away the game. "When are we moving out?" the red eyed teen asked.
"Tomorrow," Iskandar answered. "We found some old Knightmare Frames and other machinery nearby."
"Maybe I can salvage some parts," Adam thought aloud. He stood up from his seat and went over to the cloth sack one of the merchants gave him.
"You are still working on that?" Lelouch questioned. "What are they for anyway?"
Adam grabbed the strap of the sack and slung it over his shoulder. "You will find out when we get there," he answered, pulling the cloth back over his mouth.
***************
Meanwhile at Ashford
The school day just ended and now Kallen was heading toward the clubhouse. There was supposed to be a meeting to decide who the exchange students will be staying with. Kallen only hoped to not have Roland or Schneider, both of which did not make a great first impression.
"Kallen!" called Rivalz running up behind her. She didn't turn to look at him, but greeted him all the same. "So, who do you want to stay with you?"
"Maybe Mary or Jerry," Kallen thought aloud.
"Jerry's staying with me," Rivalz informed her, "And Mary is staying with Anya."
"What?!" Kallen exclaimed, "You've already decided without me?!"
"Yep and Gino is taking that Schneider guy," Rivalz added.
Kallen gulped at the new information. "Then what's the point of the meeting?"
"To plan the welcoming festival and to see the other two exchange students," he answered. "And Milly is helping plan the festival."
"Oh joy," said Kallen sarcastically. Surely the ex-president will find a way to torture the Ace of the Black Knights. "So when is it?"
"Next Friday."
"Is Milly here today?"
"Yep."
"Dammit," she cursed under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
When they got to the ball room inside the clubhouse, Kallen and Rivalz were greeted by Jerry, Mary, Gino, Anya, Viletta, and Milly. "Hiya, Kallen!" Milly cheerfully exclaimed, waving.
Kallen waved back. "Good to see you Milly."
Rivalz looked around the room. "Where are the other two exchange students?"
Viletta answered. "They are checking on Kaylin upstairs."
Everyone except Jerry and Mary turned to her. "Is she okay?" Milly asked.
"She had a fever when she got here, but she seems to be doing better," Viletta told them. "We need to keep an eye on her while she's here."
Before anyone could ask why, Jerry spoke up. "She's never been in the best of health."
Viletta nodded. "That's right. Kallen you will take both Roland and Kaylin home with you."
"M-M-Me?!" she stammered. "Why?"
"Because, Roland can help take care of Kaylin," Viletta explained, "And I'm sure you of all people must know how to treat a weak and sickly person."
Kallen sighed in defeat. "Fine."
"Now how about you go and greet your guests?" Viletta told her.
Kallen began going up the stairs when she heard Milly yell to her. "Be nice Kallen."
'Tell Roland that,' Kallen thought sourly.
She walked up to the room where the student Kaylin was staying....Lelouch's old room. Kallen had never really been in there before.
Kallen took a deep breath and knocked on the door. To her displeasure, Roland was the one who answered. He said nothing but his look asked the question in a harsh way.
"I'm here to tell you and Kaylin that you are staying with me during your stay in Japan," Kallen informed him sternly.
"Thank you," spoke a girl from behind Roland. He moved out of the way for Kallen to meet the girl named Kaylin. To Kallen it was like looking at herself yet at the same time not herself. Kaylin had the same body shape and hairstyle, but her eyes were amethyst and her hair was bleach blonde. Also her expression...To describe it is to say that the false student, Kallen Stadtfeld, had come alive. "It's nice to finally meet you Kallen Kozuki," Kaylin said with a sweet smile.
Kallen only gawked for a moment. Then she remembered Nadie and relaxed a bit. "It is...good to meet you too," the Guren pilot said to her counterpart.
Kaylin just smiled. "I think we should talk before we go," she suggested. Roland watched them both closely from a corner.
***************
Back to Lelouch and Adam
"Why is the kid with us again?" Adam asked when they began searching the old Knightmare ridden battlefield. Luckily no one from the caravan decided to search the machines. More for Adam and his project.
"He wanted to come," Lelouch answered to which Adam just huffed and continued looking around. This actually held good bounty for decent Knightmare parts. There was mostly Vincents or Akatsukis so it must have been close to the end of the war.
After a lot of digging through scrap metal, Adam found what he was looking for. A completely intact set of Air Glide Wings on a downed Akatsuki. He took out some tools from his cloth sack and began taking apart a certain spot on the wings.
Iskandar and Lelouch just watched him smirk as Adam pulled out a small component and took out the rest of the things in his bag. The white haired teen sat down and began working on what looked like black strap boots with gray light-weight metal soles.
"This is what you have been working on?" Lelouch asked worriedly. He knew exactly what his fellow Guardian was planning as Adam began attaching the float unit components to the shoes.
"What is it?" Iskandar asked curiously but he never got an answer until the red eyed Guardian was done.
Adam grinned when he finished in 2 hours. "I'm done," he proclaimed.
"What are they?" the boy repeated. Adam still did not answer him.
Adam replaced the boots he was wearing with the new ones. As he did, Iskandar and Lelouch noticed small jet-like exhausts run down the soles. After he put them on Adam stood looking at his audience.
"These are my Air Slider prototypes," he finally answered. "In layman's terms hover shoes."
"Why?" Lelouch asked.
Adam shrugged. "Gave me something to do," he answered causally. "Who knows? It might come in handy one day. Besides, they don't use that much power."
"Do you remember Eddie's hover board?"
"I remembered the schematics and fixed it."
Lelouch sighed. "How does it work?"
Adam didn't answer but began to run. After a short distance he slid his left foot forward, then his right foot, and before they knew it Adam was hovering over the sand. The jets under his feet pushed him as he 'skated' around with his white cloak flowing behind him. It seemed to the spectators that all it took was getting yourself just over the ground at the right speed.
It didn't take long for Lelouch to notice that Adam's velocity matched half his own. 'So that's why you made it,' Lelouch thought.
Adam stopped moving his legs and slowly began to drift over the scrap covered sand. He then shifted his feet to aim the jets to the direction he was gliding and pointed his toes down to touch the ground, signaling the Air Sliders to shut off.
"Can I try?!" Iskandar asked excitedly.
"No," Adam answered flatly when he walked back up to his companions. When he saw the Arabic boy's pouting face the Air Slider's inventor heaved a deep sigh. "How about you ride on my back?"
Lelouch snickered at the sight of Adam, the fearsome Terror of Death, giving a piggy back ride to a child. To that Adam gave his rival a death glare before he started moving with the kid holding on tight on his back.
Several hours later it began to get dark, so they stopped the piggy-back ride and began to head back to the caravan. On the way back, Lelouch spotted smoke coming from the direction of camp. He looked to Adam and saw that he too saw the black clouds as he picked up Iskandar and sprinted toward the camp with Lelouch right on his heels.
***************
Meanwhile, back in Japan, Kallen was leading Kaylin and Roland back to her home. Kaylin had explained that she and Roland were now ex-Remnant members and everything they did after leaving. But Kallen knew there was more, but she decided to pry later. On another note, Roland's haircut and piercings worked to differentiate himself from Lelouch to people.
Despite that, in just a few short hours, Kaylin and Kallen had become good friends. Roland on the other hand, still did not like being close to Kallen. The thought of him living with Kallen irritated him indefinitely.
When they arrived at Kallen's house the group noticed a note on the door. Kaylin took the note and read it aloud. "Working late tonight. I left money for you for take out."
Kallen sighed as she took out her key and placed it in the door. "Home sweet home," Kallen said when they entered together.
"It's nice," Kaylin complimented.
"It's small," Roland commented rudely. That gave him a scolding look from Kaylin to which he responded with an apology.
"Kaylin, I guess you can bunk with me," Kallen told her, "Roland, you get the couch." With that she and Kaylin went upstairs to unpack while Roland tended to himself.
*********************
Lelouch, Adam, and Iskandar arrived to whatever remained of the caravan. Any tent left standing was ransacked. And dead bodies were full of bullet holes. The most surprising thing were tracks from a Knightmare.
"Who would've done this?" Lelouch asked. He and Iskandar were frightened for the caravan whereas Adam only gazed at the destruction in unmoved silence.
"Bandits," said a scruffy voice behind them. The trio turned to see the caravan leader, Iskander's father, crawling on the ground and they ran over to check on him. He was gravely wounded. "They took," he coughed up blood, "everything and killed everyone."
"Don't speak," Lelouch advised him, "We can help you." That was a lie so as not to scare the young Iskander.
Iskander's father ignored Lelouch's advice. "Iskander." He bid his son to come closer.
The boy obeyed his dying father. "F-father," Iskander began to sob at the sight of his father and for the loss of the caravan.
Iskander's father pulled out a green gem necklace and handed it to his son. "This is yours now-" he coughed more blood but , "my son."
Iskander dropped the heirloom and began pleading for his father not to die. The boy's pleas were in vain as his father closed his eyes and his body went limp. Adam removed his white cloak and laid it over Iskander's father while the boy turned and hugged Lelouch to hide his crying. The former Demon Emperor felt sorry for the boy.
The white haired Guardian then started walking toward the path of the landspinner tracks. "What are you going to do?" Lelouch questioned as he tried to calm Iskander down. Adam didn't answer, he just started his Air Sliders and took off into the darkening desert.
*********************
"What's this?" Kallen asked, holding what she found in Kaylin's belongings. It was a white sketchbook with the word 'Memories' written in gold letters.
"Lelouch's memories," she answered, "Take a look."
Kallen gave her Fragment a confused looked before she opened the drawing book. The first page was a drawing of the murder scene of Lady Marianne. The young boy in the picture was on his knees as he gazed at his mother's lifeless, bullet riddled body. The next picture was one of a young Lelouch storming away from the Emperor. The picture after that was Lelouch and Suzaku finding C.C. in, at that time, what Kallen thought was a poison gas container.
There were many other drawings of the war in there that Kallen remembered or could guess. There was the resistance meeting Zero for the first time, the Lancelot aiming it's VARIS at a defenseless Zero, the first meeting with Shadow, and even the cross-dressing festival. There was also the private meeting between Princess Euphemia and Zero, the confrontation between Lelouch and Suzaku during the Black Rebellion, Kallen reuniting with Lelouch in Babel Tower, and Shirley's death. When she got to it, Kallen couldn't help but stare at her first kiss with the Demon Emperor Lelouch.
Zero's ace flipped through it some more and found events concerning Roland, most notably the drawing of him crying in a dark alley in the rain. Then Kallen came across two drawings she couldn't really understand: Roland and Lelouch meeting face to face for the first time and a drawing of herself standing in a dark world with only two roads in front of her.
The Guren pilot gave Kaylin a questioning look as she showed her the two pictures. Kaylin showed no emotion as she answered. "The first is a desire that Roland and Lelouch don't know they have. The other is...." Kaylin stopped herself.
"What is it?" Kallen asked.
"It represents a choice that you will have to make."
"A choice?"
Kaylin nodded. "It will be a choice only you can make by yourself...Do not ask what it is, for I do not know." That stopped Kallen from pressing the matter. When the time comes, she will take care of it.
They sat in Kallen's room in silence until Kallen finally asked the question she wanted to ask. "Do you hate me?"
Kaylin was surprised by her sudden question. "No, of course not. Why?"
"Because Nadie-" Kallen began.
Kaylin cut her off. "So you remember her as well."
"What?"
"When a Fragment dies," Kaylin began, "They do not just die. They disappear and leave no trace of ever existing in the world. They vanish from photographs, records, or anything they have been involved with, including memories. It seems that only those with strong bonds to the Fragment really remember them. I wonder why you do..." She began to ponder.
"Beats me," Kallen shrugged, "But about my question."
Kaylin stopped thinking about it and continued the conversation. "Nadie...was glad to have met you," she told her other. "And because of that, Kallen, I do not hate you."
Kallen smiled. "Thank you," she said. Kallen bowed her head and continued, "I wish Roland didn't hate me though."
"He is not hateful," Kaylin told her, prompting Kallen to raise her head. "He is still grieving and you remind him too much of the one he..." Kaylin drifted off and bowed her head with a saddened expression.
"Kaylin?" Kallen reached out to her shoulder.
Kaylin pushed away Kallen's hand. "I'm heading to bed," she told Kallen. "I don't want to be late tomorrow." With that, Kaylin started to change out of her Clayfield uniform.
Kallen bid her goodnight and left Kaylin alone. The red-head teen went downstairs to eat some of the pizza they had ordered earlier. When she reached the bottom stair she noticed Roland, in just a shirt and his boxers, sitting on the couch just staring at a picture he held in his hand. She remembered Kaylin telling her that Fragments disappeared from photos and Roland was still mourning her memory.
Kallen walked over and took a seat beside him. "What do you want?" he asked quietly as he put the picture away in his bag.
"You miss her, don't you?" Roland didn't answer. "Did you love her?" Again Roland didn't answer, he just kept his head down. "You should move-"
Roland interrupted her, but still looked away from Kallen. "Don't tell me to move on," he said.
"Why?"
"I'm afraid that if I do. I will forget Nadie entirely." It surprised Roland when he heard Kallen chuckle. "What's so funny?" he asked, now looking at her with an angered face.
Kallen stopped her laugh. "You won't forget her," she stated.
"What makes you so certain?" Lelouch's Fragment questioned, now looking confused.
"Because, you loved her," Kallen answered.
Roland, for the first time, smiled at Kallen. "I see." He turned away and they sat in a moment of silence. "Do you know where Lelouch is?" Roland asked, breaking the silence.
Kallen's warm expression turned to one of sadness. "I don't know," she answered, bowing her head. She looked at Roland out of the corner of her eye and asked, "What are you going to do when you meet him?"
Roland did not answer her question but changed the subject. "When we start school tomorrow and if Schneider and I get into a fight...Don't try to break us up," he advised. Kallen looked at him, confused. "Just because you are the Ace of the Black Knights, doesn't mean you can take us on in an all out brawl," Roland explained.
"I'd like to see you try and beat me!" Kallen proclaimed.
"Heh. Your hospital bill," Roland joked.
*****************
Adam stopped about half a mile away from the bandit's camp. There were a large number of them, maybe fifty bandits, and at the edge of the camp were two light brown Akatsukis.
"I found you," he said to nobody as he crossed his arms and gazed down at the bandit camp. "I will make them pay....The only ones who should kill are the ones prepared to be killed." He used his Air Sliders and glided over the sands to the camp at a speed that could match the Guren on the ground. The boosters under each foot left a red streak as he moved one foot in front of the other.
The bandit's lookout noticed the red streaks of light and ran to inform the leader. The bandit leader was Idris, a 30 year old muscular man in a dark cloak and had greedy eyes as he gazed at today's bounty from the merchant caravan. Who knew a bunch of traveling merchants had so many priceless jewels? When he was informed of the approaching outsider, he was just plainly annoyed from being interrupted from looking at the precious stones.
"I already know," he said to the lookout who just gave him a not understanding look. "He's right behind you," Idris informed his subordinate.
The lookout turned around to see a tan 19 year old teen with white hair and red eyes, wearing only a black cloth shirt, baggy pants, and black boots. He was just standing in front of the large bonfire staring at the leader. The expression the boy wore was a threatening scowl. He was unafraid, even if he was now surrounded by ten bandits pointing machine guns at him.
'How did he get here so fast?' the lookout wondered.
"Why did you kill the people in the caravan?" the white haired boy questioned.
"So you were lucky enough to survive, eh kid?" The leader laughed. "You must either be courageous or an-"
"Shut up and answer the damn question!" the teen commanded.
"Smug brat," Idris growled, "So what that we killed the merchants. They were mere weaklings anyway."
"So that's it," the boy mumbled to himself, shaking his head. He returned his eyes to looking at Idris. "I will eliminate you," he proclaimed.
All the bandits broke into laughter. "What makes you think you can do that?" the leader asked between laughs.
The laughter died away and the boy smirked as he answered Idris's question. "Because I am Shadow," a white scythe began to form in his right hand, "the Terror of Death." He grasped the neck of the scythe's pole with his right hand and stuck the pole into the ground.
Idris's eyes widened with fear at Shadow's claim. "KILL HIM NOW!" he ordered.
The ten thieves around Shadow fired their weapons. To their astonishment, not one bullet reached the Terror of Death. The bullets were blocked by what appeared to be an assortment of twenty weapons swirling around Shadow. Even so, no one considered to stop wasting bullets.
"It's futile," Shadow told them. "I'll vanquish all that stand in my way." He activated his Air Sliders and dashed to the shooters in front of him. He performed a wide horizontal swing that slashed four of the bandits surrounding him. Shadow then proceeded to get rid of the other seven that so foolishly underestimated him.
More bandits arrived to help fend off the Grim Reaper attacking them. Utilizing his Air Sliders, Shadow glided past them, slashing anyone he could reach. One tried to jump him from behind with a combat knife but Shadow spun around and kicked the attack to the ground. Then he grabbed a spear from the weapons around him and threw it at the downed man. Shadow was still surrounded by however many bandits were left.
Someone decided to try a and fire a rocket launcher. In retaliation, Shadow gathered ten of the floating weapons around him and lined them up in a makeshift wall. The explosive projectile hit the wall and the explosion killed any allies that were close to it. The bandit that fired the rocket smiled, presuming that the Terror of Death had fallen.
That presumption was dead wrong. That bandit realized this when he saw a sword flying straight toward him and stab him in the head. Shadow just stood there, unfazed from the explosion.
The bandits that were fighting him backed off as one of the Akatsukis now entered the fray. Still Shadow was unafraid, even as the Knightmare aimed it's arm mounted machine gun at him.
"Die you monster!" screamed the pilot just before he pulled the trigger. Shadow skated away to dodge the large bullets before disappearing into one of the tents. "You think that will help?!" the pilot taunted, firing at the tent until he felt certain that the Terror of Death was dead. The pilot opened his cockpit and asked, "Did I get him?"
His answer came in the form of decapitation; Shadow stood with his scythe at the ready on top of the head of the Knightmare. The blood from the neck spewed onto his pants.
Idris watched as one by one, anyone who got in Shadow's way, came to a gruesome end. Eventually the bandit leader found himself suddenly on his knees with the scythe blade pressed against his neck. He saw blood from his men stained in the sand.
"How does it feel to be weak?" Shadow taunted behind him. The leader was alone; everyone was either dead or were smart enough to run away.
"P-P-Please," Idris pleaded, "Mercy."
Shadow answered with an evil laugh. "Since you asked so nicely...." He put his foot on Idris's back and pushed him down on blade of the scythe. "...I'll make your death quick."
Adam took the jewels that the bandits had stolen and hitched a ride on the other Akatsuki. As the Knightmare rolled through the desert, back to the remains of the caravan, Adam rummaged through the bag the gems were in. He pulled out a beautiful gold ruby ring.
"Heh. Lelouch might want to take a look at this," he wondered aloud to himself.
*****************
Unknown Location
Naoto kneeled before his commander awaiting his order.
"Are you prepared for your first task?" Marcus asked him.
"Yes."
"When you complete this and the next task...Naoto Kozuki shall never exist again, instead you will be reborn with a new name. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
Marcus smiled. "Very well then. Your first task is..."
I don't think I can say this is my very best...
Do you know what Naoto's first task is? Take a guess.
Please review and tell me what you think.