19 July 2004 a.t.b.
Continuation of Overview from the Camelot Project File 002.
The problem with training Immortals as "super soldiers" is that they are limited in number, and there is no way to create more. All available Immortals must be trained to make the most use of the Camelot Program. Torture procedures were employed to persuade noncooperatives to participate in training. No outstanding negative effects were observed. Control over Immortals is established by subdermal explosives. This allows us to maintain dominance over Immortals if they rebel. Reconditioning is standard in these instances. However, use of such precautionary measures has not been necessary in the course of the program. Still, they allow for security over our investments, and can be deactivated by a member of Britannian Royalty or a member of the Camelot Project if necessary.
Military training of the Immortals is to commence after the final stages of conditioning. There will be two field commanders, two intelligence agents, and four soldiers. The first generation of these deity-like operatives will realize the dream of a Holy Britannian Empire, universal in scope and infinite in power.
All Hail Britannia.
Chapter 5: The Day A New Fiend Was Born
10 August 2017 a.t.b., 2008 hours
Prince Clovis la Britannia's G-1 Base, Area 11
"Private Suzaku Kururugi and Sergeant Maxwell Stadtfelt of the 5th Area 11 Guard. You two are the only survivors of your squad in Shinjuku."
The two soldiers stood at attention in front of Clovis la Britannia, Third Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire. After receiving medical attention, they were rushed to the command center, the pneumatic doors hissing shut. In the dark room were four figures, dramatically illuminated by the glow of a holo-map, the dots on the screen shifting around rectangles and larger dots. As Private Kururugi approached, the appearances of the figures became clearer.
The first was a tall, blonde man in fanciful garb, hands running through his hair as he sat in his throne. He was handsome, but in a fairly effeminate manner. The white cape over his purple suit was hung on an off-tilt, the tassels frayed and worn.
The second was a portly man, sweat dripping off of his brow. A monocle kept sliding off of his small nose, and he had to keep poking at it to stay on. He scurried quickly for a man of his size, keeping the blue dots constantly moving. He was similarly disheveled, as if some emergency had occurred, and only they could fix it.
The third was a girl. That was certain. She was leaning against the wall, concealed in the darkness. Her hairstyle was split into two twin-tails, but that was all Suzaku could make out. That surprised him, though. The hairstyle was in-vogue when Japan was still Japan, and Suzaku was still somewhat partial to it. The rest of her body was hidden under a boxy jacket and a long skirt. She seemed too young to be dressing that conservatively, but-
She looked up, and Suzaku quickly looked away. He knew the consequences of staring too long at superiors. What stuck in his mind, however, was her face. Her looks stood out, but more importantly- She's an Eleven.
The fourth was visible under a dim light, but even more inscrutable. He was a good foot and a half taller than Suzaku, which already made it difficult for Suzaku to discern his visage. A pair of broad shades hid the figure's eyes from him, and all Suzaku could see were his sharp features and his white hair, swept back. His skin appeared to be surprisingly tanned, making Suzaku even more uncertain as to the figure's nationality. He worked for the Britannians, though. That was certain. Britannian heavy body armor covered his long upper body, with a black officer's jacket and a ranked epaulet on the left shoulder underneath. Strangely, it looked like the jacket was extended, with long sides covering the figure's legs.
He turned to Suzaku and glared. Even with the shades, Suzaku could feel the charged hostility shot at him.
Suzaku decided to simply stand at attention.
Clovis spoke again, massaging his temples. The G1 Base's lights in the command center weren't exactly functioning, he was supposed to be debriefing and getting his massage an hour ago, and he had lost contact with the OSI's Immortal unit. His own finery was disheveled and not quite up to royal standards. If he was in the Royal Court, he would have been the gossip of the ladies (and not a few gentlemen as well) for quite some time. If only. Clovis would rather have faced those vultures than to stare this situation down. Most of all, he would rather be painting. Or designing wonderful, fabulous swimsuits. For both sexes, and those in betw- Again, if only.
"Please, describe the events that occurred during your mission. You can speak freely." Clovis was in no mood for military formalities.
Suzaku and Maxwell looked at each other, unsure of who should start first. Maxwell made the decision and spoke.
"My prince, we were eliminating Jap- Eleven resistance. When we reached the west side of the district, one of my men stumbled upon a resistance hideout. We were attacked, but managed to respond with minimal casualties, until-"
Maxwell, who became more and more emotional as he spoke, choked up. He shook his head, took a deep breath, and continued. "Until those bastards blew themselves up."
He looked at Suzaku. "If it wasn't for Private Suzaku Kururugi's selfless heroism and courage, I would not be standing here now."
Bartley mopped his head. "We'll keep your commendation in mind."
This was not a good day for him. Whenever something unfortunate for the Crown happened, the first to go was the man serving with a high enough rank to satisfy the superiors. That would be me, wouldn't it. Sighing, he addressed the two soldiers.
"What I'm about to show you will not leave this room. Understand?" He raised his handkerchief and dabbed, ignoring the sweat-drenched texture as they nodded. "The paperwork comes later, but we need answers now."
He tapped on the table's interface, raising an image on the screen in front. A black-clad, shapely figure appeared. Confused by the fairly nebulous display, Suzaku narrowed his eyes. The figure was wearing a straightjacket, but with enough armor to imply that whoever was under the helmet was unstable and dangerous. The figure was rotated, revealing the side view, and then the back. Maxwell started.
"I recognize that service insignia, sir. That's an Immortal, right? I was attached to one of their units during the Pacific Incident ten years ago."
Clovis and the girl looked sharply at Bartley, who swallowed and mopped his head faster.
The girl spoke. "Well, it can't be helped. That is an Immortal, Sergeant. She was working with the Office of Special Intelligence and our unit. Your squad was the closest to the location the Immortal was at. That's all you need to know."
"Well, Rin, they also need to know the situation. They just got out of combat." A powerful voice criticized her, and the girl turned abruptly towards the tall man.
"I was just getting to that, Archer." She shook her head and stepped into the dim light of the screen. "Show her face, General Bartley."
"What- Don't order me around, you-!"
"Bartley, do it." Clovis just shook his head at his subordinate. It wasn't time for race relations. Or rather, Area and Homeland politics.
Bartley growled. "Yes, my lord."
A distinctly pretty, young face came up on the screen. Framed by a standard military cut for a female, her expression appeared emotionless, save for a subtle turn of her mouth that could have been mistaken for a smirk. Despite the green hair and golden eyes, she seemed like a normal girl. Save for the suit that still implied every ounce of unnatural and deadly force she could possess.
"She was attached to a unit of OSI's Internal Affairs, which was eliminated to the last man. We cannot find the Immortal, who should have survived and assisted you." The girl shook her head, her twin-tails also waving back and forth. "Did you see this Immortal at all, soldiers? Was she present at all with the OSI or the Elevens?"
"No, sir." Maxwell was just as unnerved as Suzaku was by the Immortal's appearance. She looked nothing like the infamous soldiers that served with decorum during the conquest of Japan and the subsequent subjugation. "We never saw anyone like that during our mission."
Clovis frowned. "Is it possible that the Elevens could have killed them before you got there, and then took the Immortal?"
The girl shook her head and sighed. "Lieutenant Watson is- was far more capable than that. Those were OSI's best. I went over their dossiers with Croomy."
She turned to Maxwell. "Did they seem unusually skilled?"
"Ma'am?"
"Were the men you were fighting against different from any of the usual resistance?"
"No, ma'am."
"Ma'am!"
The room turned towards Suzaku, who paused. Never interrupt a superior officer. But if she's looking for something unusual … Suzaku took the plunge.
"There was something unusual, ma'am. I saw several bodies with Britannian uniforms behind the resistance."
The girl smirked. "Private Kururugi, that's the entire point of your presence here. Of course there would be bodies. Bodies tend to be the result of people dying. You should know this."
Suzaku ignored the girl's sarcasm. "Ma'am, there was something else, too. If they were actually able to take out a squad of OSI, then they wouldn't have- killed themselves the way they did. We were a much more powerful force than the resistance, and they knew it. The resistance could have escaped through the back of the shop, but they didn't. It was as if they were protecting something, or if they were covering someone's escape."
The silence lasted only a moment. Clovis rubbed his hair, and then spoke. "Sergeant Maxwell, you are dismissed. Private Kururugi, you are to remain for further debriefing."
Sergeant Maxwell looked uneasy, but he complied, saluting Prince Clovis first, and Private Kururugi second. "Thank you, Kururugi. I'll make sure you're put up for a promotion."
"Thank you, Sergeant."
The doors shut with Maxwell's departure, and Suzaku returned to attention. "My lord, what-"
The prince held his hand up. "This conversation belongs with-" He looked at the girl, and she just crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "-with Specialist Tohsaka's unit."
"It's Camelot, Prince Clovis."
"You impudent girl!" Bartley became livid. "Show some respect to the prince!"
"Bartley, now isn't the time for this." Clovis, for the nth time today, sighed. "Very well. Camelot will present a proposal for you, Private Kururugi. We're pressed for time, but this has to be kept secret as well."
"Thank you, Prince Clovis." Her tone was surprisingly formal, accentuated by a slight bow, but Kururugi suspected that it wasn't entirely sincere. He quickly stood at attention when he noticed both the girl and the tall man approaching him.
"Private Kururugi." Under the stronger light, Suzaku couldn't help but appreciate the girl's striking looks. She was surprisingly young, about the same age he was. She looked familiar as well. He definitely had seen that hairstyle before, sometime with his father-
"I am Specialist Rin Tohsaka, of the Camelot Special Corps. We normally recruit through a longer process, but as the prince said, we're pressed for time. Area Eleven isn't as secure as the public thinks. We work with the Viceroy and the OSI to keep the peace without, well …" She ran a hand through one of her twin-tails, then lazily let both drop. "Without due incident, as it were. I can't tell you more until you're fully registered in the unit, but you should know that we don't let just any amateur in."
Tohsaka. That name definitely was familiar. Suzaku didn't spend any more time thinking about it, though. "I want in."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "We're possibly dealing with a rogue Immortal here. You were pretty quick to jump on. So …" She turned to the tall man, his expression completely imperceptible. "Archer, do you think he isn't an amateur?"
"We'll find out soon enough." Archer shifted his head slightly, the gaze under the shades boring into Suzaku's. Suzaku just returned it.
"Hmph." Archer nodded. "He'll make a good poster boy, when all hell breaks loose. Possibly someone to put the blame on-" He stopped. "Did I say something wrong, Rin?"
Suzaku winced. That look in Tohsaka's eyes was more dangerous than any barrel he had stared down.
"…" She turned to Clovis. "We're done. He's in."
"That's it?" Clovis was skeptical, but he wasn't in any mood to argue. She just nodded in reply.
"My prince, I must protest this decision! Including an Eleven- Well, there's no guarantee that he'll keep this a secret! I would strongly advise you to rely on a Britannian's loyalty to assist us." Bartley's voice was urgent and upset. Common sense would rely on soldiers whose loyalties didn't potentially conflict with their nationalities.
"Bartley, Camelot is best suited to tracking the Immortal down. I know when I'm in over my head. So yes, I'm loathe to surrendering control here …" Clovis held his head in his hands, the very picture of a man whose despair encompassed the weight of command. "But … Camelot would be able to do what my men can't. Besides, it's my brother's unit. I'd trust their competency over my own men." He looked meaningfully at Bartley.
And Bartley realized that his prince wasn't just some fop, as some claimed. That underneath, he really was paying attention. If this did go public, an Honorary Britannian on the team would go a long way to showing the Eleven population Britannian goodwill. If it all went to hell, his prince could just disavow himself from "Schneizel's" actions. "Yes, my prince."
Clovis spoke to Camelot's representatives. "So you're telling me that an Immortal may have defected to the Elevens."
"Yes. But this one was special." Rin crossed her arms, her tone serious. "She was sent here to have her powers honed and controlled. That's not standard procedure. You know how much the Emperor hates deploying Immortals unless absolutely necessary."
"Which is why she had a unit of Special Intelligence supervising her." Clovis's stomach clenched, replacing the butterflies with a severe cramp. I need something to take my mind off of this later. Perhaps a certain service. I'll ask for Wilhelm again. Clovis closed his eyes, refocusing on the problem present now. "If his Majesty finds out about this, I'll be exiled for sure."
"We'll handle this first. The Office of Special Intelligence's Internal Affairs is going to have a hand in this as well." Rin frowned, and Suzaku noticed a tangible tension in the atmosphere.
The prince lifted his head, slightly relieved of his concerns. "It's fortunate that the Emperor is too occupied with his studies to be worried about the matter if it even comes to his attention. Still, I want this- I want this gone." He paused, hesitant. "We need someone to handle the resistance while we're searching for C- I mean, that Immortal. I'm going to call my sister over."
"What?"
"My sister, Cornelia."
This was the first time Clovis saw Rin surprised. Her escort reflected this surprise as well. "Commander Cornelia has a very heavy hand. I wouldn't want her in charge of something this sensitive."
Clovis shook his head in disagreement. "I will not take any risks. I may have been vain and frivolous before, but not now. This isn't the time for political posturing."
"I'm sure it isn't. You just want as many people as possible to clean this up for you." Archer smirked as Clovis paled. That was one target Archer could not miss.
"Why, you impudent-"
"General Bartley, it seems like you don't understand. It's not my style, but I'll put it in terms even you would understand. I don't particularly like you. I don't have any qualms ordering my Servant to kill you. So, please …" And Rin just smiled at Bartley.
He gulped.
"Clovis, I'll be sure to tell Lloyd about this. Thank you for your commitment to assisting Camelot with your problem. Schneizel will be glad to watch an instance of your competence soon." With that, Rin snapped a perfect salute, followed shortly by Archer.
Clovis remained silent for a moment, trying to regain his composure.
He stood, straightening his robes as he continued. "With Cornelia's assistance, I do not expect this problem to last long. That is all. Dismissed."
The man named Archer stared down at Suzaku. Then, apologetically ...
"I'm sorry."
Suzaku felt a prick in his neck.
"So, are we having a bad day?"
A bespectacled face was the first thing Suzaku saw when he came to. The stench of something sickly sweet, sharp and musky was the first thing he smelled. Suzaku turned rapidly, covering his mouth as he coughed.
"Ah, a precocious man who can't take his smokes? I'm beginning to like him already! Good find, Cecile."
"Sir, pudding and cigarettes don't go well together. Mr. Suzaku, please excuse Lloyd." A dark-haired lady in a military uniform stood next to a tall, gangly, white-haired man wearing a lab coat. "He has his habits."
"Now, now, Cecile. We can't expose everything to our newest recruit, can we?"
"Excuse me." Suzaku interrupted, still polite despite his original bewilderment. "Just where exactly am I?"
Lloyd laughed fabulously. "Avalon, of course! Where else would you be?"
"Lloyd …" Cecile shook her head. "Suzaku, that's classified information until we can ask you a few questions."
"A few? That's a few too many. All I need is just one. Private Kururugi, how much experience do you have piloting a knightmare frame?"
"What? But- I'm an Eleven."
"Dear boy, I don't particularly care. We've taken Britannian citizens from throughout the empire who've shown some sort of skill that we need." Taking a puff on his cigarette, Lloyd spun a Devicer's Key around his finger. "We'll put you on the simulator. Unless you-"
"I'll do it." This is my chance to show everyone that a world without war can exist without violent means. Suzaku touched his watch. "When do I start?"
"Right now-"
"After you finish the report, Lloyd." Frowning, Cecile thrust a stack of papers at Lloyd. "And please, do take it easy on Mr. Suzaku. He just lost most of his friends in his squadron."
Lloyd blinked. "Oh, dear. We can't have our candidate moping because we didn't let him weep over his fellow Britannians. Go ahead, we'll let you have a good cry in private. Ta ta!"
With that, Lloyd waltzed out of the room.
"I apologize for Lloyd's behavior. He's not-"
"It's alright, Ms. …?" Suzaku then just realized that he was not formally introduced to these curious superiors of the Britannian military.
"Cecile. Cecile Croomy of the Avalon Special Corps."
"Thank you, Ms. Cecile."
"You're welcome, Mr. Suzaku. I'll let you have a few moments of silence."
Cecile left before Suzaku could say anything.
But what could he say?
That he didn't feel anything?
That he never felt anything from seeing the dead Elevens, seeing the destruction on his own people from those who he now called his own?
The only way that I can unite Area Eleven and end the fighting is to help Britannia destroy the resistance. I can't afford to feel guilt. I can't afford to let regret stand in my path.
I have to make things right in the world the right way. I have to create some way for Numbers to become equals with Britannians, without using contemptible means.
I don't feel anything. I've never really felt anything like grief for the dead. That doesn't change what needs to be done to save others.
But isn't that contradicting-
The silence was excruciating for Suzaku, because those moments gave him the unwanted opportunity to contemplate what he was fighting for.
"Well, Kururugi-kun, I hope you're enjoying yourself."
He turned in shock. The memories came back, of a young girl who came with a "businessman" of sorts, during a meeting called by his father. She was watching him train, and then-
"Good luck, Kururugi-kun."
"I thought you would recognize me, Private Kururugi. Still, it has been a long time." She smiled. "I'm sorry for Archer's little misdemeanor. We needed a blood sample, but I had no idea he was planning to take it that soon, or to lace it with a tranquilizer. Sometimes, I wonder if he ever listens to me … So, Kururugi-kun." Rin Tohsaka began playing with her hair with her right hand, almost unconsciously. "Any questions?"
Suzaku hesitated. Well, he had to call her something. "How- How do I address you, Ms. Tohsaka-"
"Tohsaka-sensei, 'Specialist' Tohsaka. It's not all that important. I'm your superior, and I'll be training you on the Lancelot."
"The Lancelot?"
"The knightmare Lloyd was talking about. We have a simulator, and we're going to put you on it tomorrow morning. It's …" She checked her pocketwatch. "It's 2200 hours. You need your rest."
Suzaku felt a troubled expression cross his face, and Rin noticed. She smirked, her eyes narrowing. "Well, it's not like I'm assigning you curfew or anything."
"Why me, Tohsaka-sensei?"
She blinked in surprised. I didn't actually expect him to call me that. "To put it bluntly, because I thought you were trustworthy."
Suzaku looked away. "Then I'm going to earn that trust. Where's that simulator?"
"Are you an idiot-" Rin paused. "Hm."
"What is it?"
"I'll be staying up late as well. I need to run some tests anyway, and you need to catch up to the other recruits."
Suzaku widened his eyes in surprise. "You need your sleep as well-"
"Aha. Are you being a hypocrite, Private Kururugi?" She leaned forward, hands on her hips, making Suzaku bend back uncomfortably.
"N-no, Tohsaka-sensei."
"Then let's go, Kururugi-kun."
"The Seventh Servant's been found, Bartley?"
"We suspect it. Only the summoning of a Servant could emit that much energy. Clovis, you were correct. We need Cornelia's assistance."
"My father will not be happy. He wanted to have complete control of the Grail War. How did a family escape us?"
"We don't know. Bazett, the Association's emissary, is not happy. The Lords of the Clock Tower are furious. The El-Mellois are calling for your head. I fear this will lead to dire consequences for you, my prince."
"Call in Odysseus."
AN: Well, this has been re-written pretty hard. I think it's better. More rewriting to come. 12/28/11.
Suzaku's spoken lines were mostly taken and adapted from his original conversation with Lloyd and Cecile. Ironically, they make him sound like a soulless psychopath/sociopath in the context of this story. I know a lot of people hate Suzaku. I don't particularly like him either, but I don't hate him. Honestly, he's portrayed as a thoroughly idiotic ass who can't put together two ideas for crap because he's blinded by his morals. I think there's more to him than that.
As I watched Code Geass R1 again, imagining Suzaku as a psychopath who knows EXACTLY what he's doing, but refuses to accept it and hides under a cover of morals makes more sense than someone who fights a completely contradictory battle, only explaining his understanding of the big picture at the very end. The depth of his psychological torment is revealed as he loses everything that is dear to him. His father, Euphemia, his morals, and Lelouch are only a few. It's quite strange, looking at a Suzaku who felt no remorse using "contemptible" means against his own people, and then watching his Big No as he nukes Tokyo. Personally, I think he's a psychopath with a heart. Or a psychopath who hides under the heart on his sleeve.
The next few chapters will be mostly expository chapters, with action scenes here and there. I believe at Chapter 8 things will truly start to heat up.
Again, thank you for your time, patience, and reviews. I look forward to hearing your feedback.