I don't own Code Geass.
I hope you have made your vote on my poll on who you would rather duel Kallen. Note that it will be the toughest one. Your choices are: Lelouch, Adam, or Both...This chapter will be in Act II so decide soon. I honestly can't choose for myself on this matter.
Act II
Part 1: Pride and Fear
Aboard the Ark, virtual training room
October 10, 2018, 4:15 P.M.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kallen rushed under the cover of a rock and took the time to reload her pistol. She cursed under her breath. "I just had to challenge Hawk to a firefight...Good job Kozuki, you just signed your own death warrant."
"That rock won't help Kallen," Hawk called to her calmly, "I'm switching to explosive rounds."
The red-head's eyes widened at the warning and she bolted from her cover just before the rock was blown to bits. Kallen fried three shots at the marksman before diving for more cover.
Just as she was about to move, an alarm rang on her cell phone, time up. "Damn," she muttered as the canyon they were fighting on dissolved.
"Nice try Kozuki," Hawk taunted, "but don't mess with the best." Kallen flipped him off in response and Hawk faked hurt. "Aww, don't be that way...Just because you can't shoot-"
"I can shoot!" Kallen yelled.
"I meant compared to me, hotshot," he replied with a smirk.
"Are you two done bickering?" Adam asked as he entered the room followed by Lelouch, Gage, and Alice.
"You really just had to best Hawk at shooting," Alice commented, "Didn't you Kallen?"
"Don't start with me Alice," Kallen warned. Hawk agitated her enough already.
"Sore loser," Gage muttered.
Lelouch finally spoke up. "Kallen, I think you should go find new clothes," he said.
Kallen just looked at him confused. "What's wrong with what I wear?"
"I think he means that you should get a more...durable outfit," Adam explained, which only earned a questioning look for him.
"Wow your dense today," Gage said. "Let me explain...Ahem...I see London I see France, I see Kallen's lacy underpants!" He and Alice burst into laughter when Kallen flared red and tried to cover the big hole in her shorts.
Kallen had been using her old terrorist outfit for each day of training. Now looking at it, she noticed all the various rips and tears that it sustained in the past month.
"C'mon lets go and get you changed," Alice said, grabbing Kallen's hand.
"Thanks," Kallen told her.
*************
Empress's Palace, Britannia
Zero's quarters
"Have you found any leads on who destroyed Madrid?" Zero asked into the phone.
The person on the other line was Toudoh. "Only the rebels that we heard about," he replied. "but those footprints we found are still a mystery to us."
"Has Llyod or Nina come up with anything?"
"Nothing more than we already know....Suzaku, do you think Lelouch would know anything about this?"
The mention of his best friend's name surprised him. "How did you-"
"A couple of my soldiers admitted to flying him and Adam overseas," Toudoh answered the unfinished question.
"I see...Don't tell anyone and don't say my real name on an unsecure line," Suzaku ordered, removing his mask since he was completely alone. "Lelouch wouldn't know anything about this...But I think I know who does."
"Who would?"
"Noa."
Toudoh remained quiet for nearly two minutes before he made a response. "You think this is a Geass matter?"
"You think so too since you mentioned Lelouch, right?"
"Shall I see what he knows?"
Suzaku thought about it for a few minutes. 'Will Noa tell us everything? Or will he just leave us nothing as usual?' "Go and find out what exactly Noa knows," he finally ordered.
"Understood," Toudoh replied.
"One more thing though," Suzaku put back on his Zero mask, "I've heard rumors of soldiers leaving the Black Knights. Are they true?"
"I have heard these rumors as well," Toudoh answered grimly. "I've also heard some have gone rogue. I believe the cause is Lelouch, most wish him dead while others just want him to live but answer for his crimes. Same thing with the UFN; some blame Japan and Britannia for him living."
"I see."
"You don't think it was one of the rogue soldiers or another country do you?" Toudoh inquired.
"Talk to Noa," Zero commanded, "See what he knows...And if you see Lelouch, inform him of what's happening."
"Understood," Toudoh finished and hung up.
As soon as Zero hung up as well, the door of his office opened and Nunnally was wheeled in by Sayoko. "Good evening Suzaku," the young empress said after the door closed. She noticed the harsh stare the supposed to be dead Japanese boy gave her through the mask. "No one else is here and Sayoko already knows who you are."
With a sigh he removed the mask once more. "Is there anything you need your maj-Nunnally?" he asked, almost forgetting that she hated him calling her your majesty when it was a friendly hello.
"Is there something wrong for me to visit a friend for company?" the crippled girl asked in reply with a smile.
Suzaku chuckled. "No, I suppose not..." He drifted off into deep thought with a look that worried Nunnally.
"Sayoko," she said, addressing the maid that always stayed with her, "Can you go and make us some tea please?"
"Of course," the Japanese woman said, bowing politely before leaving the two alone.
"Is there something wrong Suzaku?" Nunally asked the new Zero.
Suzaku snapped out of his thoughts and looked back at her with a smile. "No, nothing is the mat-"
"Don't lie to me Suzaku," she interjected sternly.
With a sigh, the Japanese teen surrendered to the younger girl. He looked solemnly at the Zero mask he had placed on the desk. "Why didn't he take it back?" Suzaku asked silently.
"What?" Nunnally asked confused.
"Why didn't Lelouch take the role of Zero back?!" he almost yelled. "Why do I have to play the part of the man who killed Euphie? Especially since Lelouch is still alive."
Nunnally noticed that he was shaking somewhat in anger. "Suzaku...Lelouch has done enough as Zero," she told him, "You of all people should know that."
Suzaku listened and let the young girl's words sink in. "Your right. He does deserve some sort of rest...But why am I cursed to become Zero?"
Nunnally stared intently into his bright green eyes with her own periwinkle eyes. "You need to find an answer for yourself." Suzaku chuckled after a moment of hearing that sentence. "What's so funny?"
"Have you been speaking to Noa?" he asked.
It was now Nunnally's turn to chuckle. "A part of him seems to rub off when you talk to him, huh?"
"Heh. Yeah, Noa has that effect on people, doesn't he?"
"Your right...I wonder if some of him had rubbed off onto Lelouch and Kallen?"
"Surely, but forget them, what about Adam? He's been with Noa for his whole life," Suzaku said, "I'm surprised he's not a Noa clone."
Nunnally laughed for a second then thought of something. "Suzaku..."
"What's wrong Nunnally?" he asked.
"Have you met Adam and Noa before the Zero Requiem?"
Suzaku's eyes widened. It was taboo for him to speak of the AURA incident. Somehow, Noa was able to erase the memory of everyone who was not involved with it directly. Other than himself, Lelouch, Kallen, Adam, Alice, Lance, Eddie, and Shinji remembered it. Noa had wanted the AURA kept secret from the world.
Perhaps it was the least the immortal could do for the men and women that were massacred on the space station.
"Suzaku?"
"No," he finally lied.
Nunnally frowned, disbelieving, but didn't press any further on the topic of Adam and Noa's origins. "Very well," she said as Sayoko returned with the tea.
***************
Kallen looked at the two black cases that laid on her bed. She had returned to her and C.C.'s room to change.
"I see your showing off your assets," the witch commented after seeing the hole in Kallen's pants. The red head just ignored C.C.'s comment and addressed the cases on the bed. "Noa had me drop them off. I don't know what's in them though," she said nonchalantly.
"Since when can someone tell you what to do?" Kallen asked slyly. She knew of C.C.'s disobedient reputation very well.
C.C. smiled. "I can't help if Noa is my superior, can I?" the green haired woman asked in response, getting a confused look from the Black Knights ace. Seeing the look, C.C. only told her, "You'll understand someday."
Kallen was still questioning but shrugged and returned her attention to the cases. One was long and slim while the other was larger and broader. She opened up the latter case and found a dark red outfit. It seemed like it was based mainly on her own terrorist clothes but with slight altercations.
Kallen's new outfit had the same kind of zip up turtleneck shirt that Lelouch wore now, except it was sleeveless and exposed her midriff. The sleeves were replaced with unconnected sleeves and like her terrorist sleeves only red and black. It had slim shorts and short black boots. There were also a pair of black gloves and a black buckled belt. Her head band completed the look.
The other case held a beautifully crafted sword from Lance. It was a medium sized broadsword with a glimmering silver blade and red handle with a lotus shaped pommel. In the center of the crossguard was ebbed with a lotus insignia as well.
As Kallen changed into her new clothes, C.C. asked, "Why did you challenge Hawk to a gunfight?"
"I don't know," the red-head partially lied, "Why do you ask?"
"Well you challenged Shinji to a fist fight yesterday and now you challenged and lost to Hawk in his field of expertise," C.C. answered, not really carrying. "I'm just curious as to why you try to beat them when you know you will lose." Kallen said nothing in response so C.C. continued her prodding. "Is it pride? You were the best of the Black Knights but now you are at the bottom, a mediocre rookie. You are not a sharpshooter like Hawk; you are not as strong as Shinji; your not as agile as Ghost, Gage, or Alice. Your skill compared to Adam and Lance, needs work. Lelouch-"
"I get it!" Kallen yelled, glaring into the witch's auburn eyes with her own sapphire. C.C. was unfazed by her gaze. "I know I'm not an expert at something like everyone else. I just want to...." She drifted off and began to look away in deep thought.
"You want to remain useful to Lelouch," C.C. stated. Kallen did nothing in response except her head drooped. "Your pride is hurt because when compared to the other Guardians you feel like you will never be needed by him. You are also afraid that that will cause him to leave you behind again." Still the Guren pilot said nothing. "Have you ever seen Lelouch fight?" C.C. inquired.
The question surprised Kallen. "I've seen his powers and I have seen his skill in a Knightmare, but other than that, no. Even with that speed he's obtained, I don't think he has any particular skill with physical fighting."
The green haired witch gave a small smile. "Your pride will be hurt more if you ever see his new found prowess in full. Did you know how it is that Adam tops Lelouch?"
"His fighting abilities?" Kallen guessed.
"Correct. He and Lelouch have played many games of chess and neither one can continuously beat the other. It is only by his fighting abilities that Adam beats Lelouch overall."
"Where are you going with this?" Kallen questioned as she put on her last boot.
"Do you think you are the only one who's pride is hurt?" C.C. questioned. "I know of your powers Kallen." The rookie Guardian's eyes widened. "Don't worry," the witch comforted, "I won't tell Lelouch yet...You know how badly that boy wants to defeat Adam, do you not?"
Kallen nodded. "Yes...He seems set on it, like when he wanted to get revenge on his father."
"You are right, so let me ask you this: How can Lelouch equal Adam?"
The answer dawned on Kallen and her eyes widened in disbelief. Then she remembered Roland. "How strong is Lelouch now?"
The witch just smiled. "Don't get me wrong," she said, "Even as an Advent, he has low stamina."
****************
"Special training exercise?" Kallen repeated the words Adam told her when she returned to simulation room.
"That's right," he confirmed. "You will only have one opponent in an area of your choice."
Kallen blinked, unsure of what Adam had in store for her. "Who will be my opponent?"
Adam looked solemn as he answered. "Someone that Noa had preprogrammed into the system for me..." Kallen sensed a foreign emotion emanate from the white-haired teen. "...Good luck," he said before exiting the room.
'Good luck?' the ace wondered. 'Adam would never wish good luck to anyone. I wonder...'
She shook herself of her thoughts and brought herself back to the present. "So anywhere I want huh?" Kallen said to herself. "Might as well have fun...The Damocles," she said to the monitoring scientists.
The walls of the simulation room disappeared and was replaced with Nunnally's garden room of the Damocles, the sun shining down upon her. Kallen drew her sword to have it handy when she meets up with her opponent. For the moment the Guren pilot looked around the room, taking in the huge window and the many flowers.
"It suits her," Kallen mused while she thought of Lelouch's sister. Her thoughts were interupted when she heard the door behind her slide open. She spun around, sword at the ready, ready to face her opposition.
She glared straight at the man that now stood before her. He had medium length pitch black hair with white highlights and seemed aged in his mid or early twenties. He wore a white trench coat, black pants, gloves, belt, and boots. He carried an otachi sword in his left hand.
His sea green cat like eyes along with that small smile...Despite him being a program, his sheer presence carried a thick air of malevolence with it. So much so, that Kallen began to quiver.
Kallen could think of only one person that could make her fear so much...Despite never actually seeing his face...
******************
Somewhere in the EU
At the very moment the training simulation began, Lazard felt a pulse from the back of his left hand. He closed his favorite book and removed his hood to reveal his short reddish brown hair as he gazed at the source of the pulse with his amber eyes.
The Blood Knight smiled wickedly as he listened to the voice that always whispered into his head, a constant reminder of their planned reunion. "I see," Lazard said to himself, "You wish to test her strength while Adam suspects it as only a training....Very well, my true master."
***************
Archangel, the original number 1 ranked Guardian, stood before her. The program of him just stood there, arrogantly smirking at the Black Knights ace. Seeing the darkness in his eyes, Kallen wondered how someone like him could have even existed.
Without warning, the data Archangel charged and attacked her, swiping the full length of his long blade against Kallen's. Using his sword as leverage, Archangel managed to push Kallen up some into the air and before her feet could touch the ground he did two quick cuts, pushing her further up. He jumped up after her and relentlessly continued his assault against the airborne Guardian rookie.
Kallen blocked blow for blow, thinking that he would eventually tire out. 'Good thing they make the people realistic enough,' Kallen thought thankfully, 'I'm glad Adam showed me how to fight in the air like this.' At that thought, her eyes widened when she realized how high she was now. Archangel had managed to bring them to nearly the ceiling. 'His jump pushed us this far?!'
Archangel noticed her hesitation. He forcefully slashed her blade so hard that her guard broke, then he grabbed the collar of her shirt and threw the Guren pilot to the ground. Then he followed after her with the point of his blade pointed down toward it's victim.
Kallen managed to recover just before hitting the floor and just in time noticed Archangel falling down at her like a stone. The Black Knights Ace jumped back, planning to counter attack as soon as the false swordsmaster hit the ground. When his blade was just about three feet from the floor, Kallen dashed toward her open opponent.
To Kallen's shock, Archangel stopped midair and slashed around himself with his otachi. The shocking thing was that he did it so fast, Kallen didn't even notice it until she hit the wall. Fortunately for said ace, her body was able to react and block the most devastating part of the counterattack. The force of the blow flung her to the wall and even managed to hack off the flowers from their stems. She also noticed a small cut across her
Kallen struggled to stand up again. The hit to the wall completely stunned her. She thought that Archangel would finish her off then and there, but looking up, Kallen saw that the monster of a man just stood there calmly standing. He still stared at her with those cat-like sea green eyes and that arrogant smirk. She also noticed no sign of fatigue showed on him.
"What the hell are you?!" the Guren pilot yelled at the program. The fake Archangel, in response, stabbed her shoulder before mouthing his answer with a satisfactory grin that showed he took pleasure in her anguish...
A monster...A weapon...That is all that I am.
With that the simulation ended. Archangel dissolved away, still grinning. Kallen then saw as she slumped into a sitting position against the wall, Lelouch with a med-kit running toward her with Adam, Alice, and Rakshata walking in after him. Lelouch stopped and kneeled next to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern in his voice. Before Kallen could answer the prince, he opened the med-kit and began to bandage her wounds.
Kallen noticed the worried expression on his face and smiled for him. "Thank you Lelouch," she said, trying to lessen his concern, "but you shouldn't fret too much about this. I just have a few cuts and bruises is all."
Lelouch glared at her like a parent would to scold their child. "You were slammed against the wall, slashed across your stomach and was stabbed straight through the shoulder. If it were me, I would have ended the program as soon as Archangel got you into the air." He stopped and continued working on Kallen's bandages.
"Lelouch," Kallen whispered, saddened by his scolding. Then her thoughts went elsewhere.
Rakshata looked at Kallen's wounds and blew a low whistle. "Noa just has to tell me how he made this virtual room. I'm surprised that he can materialize data to the point that it can actually hurt anyone that trains in here." The others absently agreed with the amazed Indian scientist, but otherwise they just kept their mouths shut.
They were silent until Lelouch finished with Kallen's bandages. "There," he breathed, before staring back at Kallen who snapped into attention as soon as he spoke. "Don't push yourself so hard Kallen."
"You don't have to worry about me so much Lelouch," the red headed girl said, attempting to comfort him.
Lelouch looked at her with warmth and care in his amethyst orbs. "No. I do have to worry about someone that means so much to me Kallen. You know I care deeply about you." Kallen blushed a bit before nodding and returning the warmth. "So I have every right to worry about you getting hurt."
Kallen smiled and fought back the tears of joy she knew would come. Before she could say anything to Lelouch, Adam spoke up. "Were you afraid?" he asked the Ace of the Black Knights.
Kallen and Lelouch turned their attention away from each other and looked at the white-haired speaker. "I wasn't afraid," Kallen lied.
Adam shook his head in disappointment. "Kallen...Just because you are the Ace of the Black Knights does not mean that you have the inability to fear nor does it mean that you should be the best." He sighed before he met Kallen's gaze with his crimson eyes. "The point of this training bout was for you to swallow your pride and to admit that you were powerless to an unbeatable opponent." Kallen dropped her head, she didn't want to look into his steely gaze as he continued to lecture her. "Sometimes, it is better to give up and run. Learn from your mistakes, that is the only way if you want to surpass your limits."
Lelouch glared at his rival, who just folded his arms and gave an unwavering stare back in response. Adam had a point, Lelouch had to admit...Kallen's pride had gotten her in trouble more than once in the past. Like when she was captured by Xingke, when she found out Lelouch, her irritating pompous classmate, was in fact Zero, or how her pride always got her in the way of expressing her feelings toward Lelouch in the beginning.
But Lelouch was not so different. His pride had played it's part in him dieing in front of the world. It was only because of Adam that he still lived, giving him a second chance at life as the Azure Knight. Still, the prince wondered why exactly Adam would want to save him.
"I was afraid," Kallen suddenly admitted solemnly, surprising everyone except for Adam. She looked the Silver Guard straight into his ruby orbs. "If that was how Archangel truly was, then I'm glad I never got to meet him in real life...I would've been frozen if I had fought him face to face outside a Knightmare."
Adam turned his back on her and uncrossed his arms. He just stood there in silence for a full two minutes before speaking. "That program had just his strength without his Advent. If he fought you seriously...Archangel would've taken pleasure in your hopeless despair and kill you as you plummet into the dark abyss of your fear."
Everyone stared at Adam in silence as he walked away. Alice followed after, catching him in the hall on the way to his room. When he finally noticed her, Adam finally stopped and turned to face the girl that always returned the deep care he gave.
Alice saw the sad expression on his face. "Even though he's dead by your hands," she said softly, "Archangel still scares you...Doesn't he?" she asked.
Adam gave a small, sad laugh. "Scared is an understatement," the Guardian's best answered, "I am horrified by him. It took all of my courage to even face him almost a year ago." He turned and walked away.
"Archangel still lives," Adam said to himself, "In my memories and my nightmares, that monster still lives." Then he remembered something from a long time ago.
I remember though....he wasn't like that in the beginning.
**************
Space Station AURA, virtual room
52 years ago
Adam (A/N: in this time, he is known as Shadow and wears black and red. And Angel is just a nickname for Archangel) gazed out into the virtual sunset with Archangel and Lance atop a massive wall defending the ancient city of Troy. Lazard was quietly enjoying his favorite book that Noa lent him while leaning against the wall of a watchmen post. Ghost just sat quietly next to Lazard.
"The the great King gazed unto the horizon," the Blood Knight read aloud to the others, "What he saw was not the sun, but it was the bright shining future that he had envisioned in a dream. One that would cost the young man a great price.-"
"But he was not alone in his dream," Archangel continued without reading but still gazing out into the sunset. "His Queen, the Sentinel, and the Rogue Knight also saw the world as a glorious utopia. They would fight for that dream, that future. They would not fail as long as the King continued to follow the everchanging wind." The number 1 Guardian chuckled as he and Shadow turned to face the reader while Lance continued to enjoy the sunset.
"The World Knights," Archangel stated, "Prologue."
Lazard smiled as he put away his book into his red trench coat pocket. "You know what it says, do you?" he inquired smoothly.
"We all do. Since you keep burning every sentence into our brains," Shadow joked, pointing at his head as he said it.
"Heh. I won't apologize for it," Lazard retorted to the only non-S-class Guardian there.
"We wouldn't expect you to," Archangel said with a friendly smile. He dropped the smile and heaved a deep sigh. Then unsheathed his otachi and held the handle with his left hand. "Are you two set?" he asked Shadow and Lazard. He was merely there to observe Shadow's progress, not to actually fight.
Turning to his pupil and the rank 2 Guardian, Lance ushered them both warning. "Don't under estimate Angel," he advised.
Shadow and Lazard huffed. "Noted," they both said at once as they too prepared their own weapons. Shadow conjured a falchion while Lazard unsheathed his wide bladed rapier.
Without warning the two of them attacked the raven haired Guardian on both sides. Archangel, blocked and parried both of their attacks effortlessly. No matter how strong they were together, Shadow and Lazard couldn't get touch him. They continued the assualt for about a minute longer on top of the wall of Troy before giving up.
Archangel smirked smugly at the two of them. "Is that all?" he mocked.
"You shouldn't be so smug," the number 2 Guardian warned. A violet bolt symbol with the Geass sigil over it, lit up over Lazard's gloved right hand. "Shadow, I'll take Angel alone."
The younger Guardian felt his pride insulted and responded by alighting his own Advent over his right gloved hand. "Tch. You won't be taking all the glory, Blood Knight."
Lazard huffed. "Fine, just don't get in my way," he advised. Glaring at the still smirking Archangel, Lazard pointed his rapier to him. "At the end of this day..." The blade of his began to course violet electricity through it. "The Guardians will have a new number 1!" he proclaimed.
"Oh? I'd like to see you try," Archangel said amused.
Lazard dashed toward Archangel with his sword raised high. He slashed at his opponent with his electric sword. Knowing what would happen if their blades clashed, Archangel gracefully sidestepped Lazard's attacks until he was pushed to the edge of the wall. Before Archangel could try to counterattack, Lazard ducked down and the raven haired Guardian saw a falchion flying straight at him. He forgot that he was fighting Shadow too.
Archangel knocked the sword upwards, only to have Shadow teleport to his sword marker and follow up with a downward slash. But Angel foresaw the impending strike and quickly used his long bladed otachi as leverage to flick Shadow away. Lazard took the distraction as a chance to cut across Angel's exposed torso, only to have Angel flip over him and push him off the wall.
Lance and Ghost stepped out of the way as Archangel swung his sword down on the the wall, making a large V shaped piece slide off the wall of Troy as he stood on top of it. Lazard, saw the chunk of wall falling toward him with Archangel standing on top of it. Drawing back his left hand, Lazard charged a purple sphere of electricity. He fired the sphere and blew the block to pieces.
Archangel had already ready jumped off the stone before the lightning ball struck it down. The dust cloud it created though, gave him a good opportunity to counter.
Angel had many talents due to his Advent, which he still didn't fully understand. All he knew was that it had to do with some sort of energy. He can do a great many things, but he especially enjoyed the telekinesis he had. Using that and a little energy, Angel slashed his otachi at the dust cloud, sending a visible white shock wave blade at the free falling Lazard.
Lazard knew a lot of Angel's tricks, so the shock wave didn't surprise him at all. He slashed at the wave and the three others that came before Archangel himself emerged from the cloud of dust. Lazard then retaliated with blasts of lightning that Angel easily deflected with his blade. Frustrated, Lazard tried to charge another lightning sphere at his superior, but someone grabbed his wrist behind him before he fired. Turning his head, Lazard saw Shadow's red eyes beaming at his amber ones in anger.
In a flash, they were the roof of one of the buildings below. Lazard yanked his arm away from Shadow's grip. "You would have killed him!" Shadow yelled.
"Hmph. You still have a lot to learn about his power," Lazard retorted as Archangel gracefully landed atop the roof of an adjacent building. He was still smiling. Lazard couldn't help himself from faking a smirk of his own. "He's enjoying this," he commented.
"Aren't we as well?" Shadow questioned as eight see through weapons surrounded the pair. "Together this time."
"Fine."
Shadow quickly grabbed a spear from the eight weapons that he produced out of the air. The rest he sent flying toward Archangel. Lazard jumped onto one of the seven weapons and flew at the number 1 Guardian with them. He fired two blasts of electricity before dismounting and landing in front of the white clad Guardian.
Archangel dodged the lightning then when the blades approached, he fluently followed with a shock wave that scattered them in the air. Then he grabbed the spear Shadow threw himself for a surprise attack, the spear vanished into thin air. Angel watched in amusement as Shadow then teleported to his falchion while Lazard charged in for an attack. For Archangel, this was a cakewalk to fend off Lazard, even when Shadow joined in, he merely made is long otachi dance, parry, and block with Shadow's and Lazard's swords.
Eventually, Lazard was knocked out of the fight, leaving Shadow to fend for himself. Knowing that he couldn't face Archangel head on, he retreated deeper into the virtual replica of Troy. He fled into the what he believed to be the royal palace. Thinking that Angel, was taking his time to catch up to him, Shadow decided to take a breather and think of a plan...But then a voice made him realize that he had no time to stop.
"Do you really think it wise to drop your guard...Shadow?" Shadow's eyes widened and he gasped with pure shock when he felt a blade press against his throat. Shadow turned his head back slowly to see into Archangel's sea green, cat-like eyes staring back into his red eyes with sheer amusement. "Nice try, your improving," the raven haired man said to the snow white haired teen. He lowered his sword and Troy vanished to be replaced to with a gigantic circular empty room.
"Hmph. I'll beat you at your own game one day," Shadow told Archangel as he began to exit the room.
"Then I'll be waiting for you that day......Shadow."
What was it that made him change?
*****************
Unknown Location
Present Day
The Ardor stood before the hooded figure in the white room, his master, Marcus. "Is there something you want from me, my Master?" Ardor asked.
Marcus answered with a low, deep, commanding voice. "Yes, my servant," he answered calmly. "Roland and Kaylin...Eliminate them."
Ardor was stunned speechless by his order. "But we promised to let them live their own lives...To leave them alone!" he argued.
"Are you disobeying my command?" Marcus questioned, ice in his eerily nonchalant tone. "You know that you have no free will of your own. You cannot reject my command. You will destroy anything that I deem a possible threat."
Ardor looked away, it was true. Naoto paid the price of his freedom for his second life. 'No,' the Remnant reminded himself, 'Naoto paid the price of my freedom for my life.' Then an idea came to mind.
"Master," Ardor said, hope etched into his voice. "How about I try to reason with them to return? Please do not make me kill them...Please have mercy."
Marcus was somewhat amused by his subordinate's suggestion, but he considered it. "You wish not to relive Nadie I see...Very well," the necro-warlock answered after a brief period of thought, "You may try to talk Roland and Kaylin into coming back Ardor." The said Remnant breathed a sigh of relief.
"But," Marcus continued, "if neither of them decide to return...You will kill them, is that understood?"
"I...I understand," Ardor said grimly in a low voice. "If neither want ever to return...I will make sure they do not hinder our plans."
"I also want you to take our new member and whomever else you wish to distract any Guardians if they become a problem. You may take your leave when you decide."
"Yes...Whatever you say my Master." Ardor hoped with all his soul that Roland and Kaylin would accept his offer to return to the Remnants.
There is the first part of Act II. Please Review and tell me what you think of the story...Good or bad, feedback is great.
Can you guess who the newest member of the Remnants is?
Note: I haven't introduced all of the Remnants, there are two, maybe three more OC Remnants, but the new one is not OC. First correct guess wins one of Eddie's super destructive hyper bouncy balls!
Eddie: They are not destructive...Okay they are, I just don't want you guys to have them........They're so much fun.