Chapter 8: Freedom
A/N: Warning this Chapter Contains extreme violence if such material offends you please do not read this chapter.
Kallan smiled as she destroyed another Sutherland, These Brittainian dogs are no match my Guren. We'll do it; we'll rescue Tohdoh and maybe Zero if he's being held here, Kallan spoke to the four Holy Swordsmen through the Guren's radio, "Remember CC refused to tell us what Zero looked like so we'll just have to release everyone along with Tohdoh and hope Zero is among them."
"Right," The four former JLF champions said in unison.
2 Days Before:
Ohgi looked upon the notorious JLF heroes, They look tired, beaten almost,he thought, how can I break it to them, they come here asking the great Zero to help save Tohdoh and I have to tell them Zero's gone, probably captured too? I guess I'll have too if I want their help.
"Well, is Zero going to help us?" Chiba Nagisa demanded.
"Zero has been captured as well" Mao calmly explained walking into the room.
Ohgi frowned, Mao! Dam him he should have asked me before telling them. I would have let him but he should have asked first. Mao shot Ohgi a knowing smile that always put him on edge.
The Holy Swordsman's eyes all widened, "Th-That's terrible. I'm sorry for your loss" Chiba awkwardly attempted to console Ohgi.
Mao's voice could be heard again, "There's no reason it has to be a loss. Attack the Bureau. Wasn't that your plan all along," Mao turned to the elite squad, "you just wanted Zero to lead you, but he isn't necessary, let me do it."
"No," Ohgi said quickly, "I'm in charge now that Zero is gone, you stay here and we'll figure a plan to rescue Tohdoh and Zero."
Present day – Government Bureau
"Where the hell did Knights of the Rounds come from?" Senba Ryoga screamed before The Knight of One's Excalibur pieced his knightmare and killed him.
Kallan broke out into a cold sweat, This isn't good, she thought as she realized that only two out of the six knightmare originally brought were still standing, Only Chiba and I remain.
Anya's passive voice moved through the airwaves, "Surrender, not even that red knightmare can save you."
The Lancelot, The Knight of One, Anya and Sir Bradly surrounded Kallan and Chiba. "Like hell we are!" Chiba yelled before attacking The Lancelot with her crippled Knightmare frame, Suzaku, easily parried her blow and took out the knightmare's legs.
Kallan took this distraction as an opportunity to attack the Knight of Ten's customized Gloucester. Sir Bradly skirted backwards, "Silly Monkey you can't defeat a knight of the rounds."
Kallan smirked as the Guren's arm extended and radiated Sir Bradly's Gloucester, "Looks like you just got beat by a monkey," Kallan said triumphant.
"God dammit! I'll get you back bitch!" Bellowed an infuriated knight of ten as he forced to use his ejection pod.
Unfortunately for the Black Knight Ace the Knight of One used his shurikens to knock the Guren over. No! I failed you Zero. I failed you Naoto, Kallan thought as the light in the Guren faded.
15 Minutes Later:
VV pulled a piece of re-bar out of his head to the horror of Lelouch. "You didn't think I was dead dear nephew, did you?" VV voice was like a steel knife wrapped in velvet, soft but still obviously deadly. VV looked at his surroundings, the concrete was ruptured, the lighting was out, steel bars twisted and some still red-hot. This is a why I hate knightmares, so clumsy no doubt a stray round caused this damage, the Blond man-boy thought.
Lelouch was stunned, He really is immortal, just like CC. Suddenly VV began to laugh, at first just a giggle but it soon turned into a full blown maniacal laugh.
"It looks like Cornelia is going to have her way after all," VV laughed. Guards were soon in the ruined cell block, VV turned to them, "Its become apparent our holding cells are no longer suitable transfer all prisoners to the military jail."
5 Minutes Later:
Lelouch was still dazed from the blast as the two burly men dragged him by his arms into military holding cells. His surrounding were a blur and his head throbbed.
Cornelia stood outside of the cell block, Dam them, the S.I.S. won't let him be taken to the medical bay. No doubt they don't want me to pull the same stunt I did last time, but still. Cornelia looked at Lelouch's battered figure. Bruises and cuts marring his handsome face, it made her sick to her stomach not since Marianne's assassination had she felt like this.
Kallan tasted blood in her mouth. She looked at a black haired young man being dragged into the cells. A Brittainian, Kallan's eyes widened, is that Lelouch?
Tohdoh saw the princes face and his eyes lit up with recognition, No, could it really be him after all these years? Is that Lelouch vi Brittainia back from the dead. Once the bloodied teen was brought to his cell, the one directly across Tohdoh, the Japanese commander spoke, "Is that you Lelouch?"
Kallan was beyond confused, Tohdoh knows Lelouch what the hell is going on?
Lelouch looked up not recognizing the voice, "Who wants to know?"
"Kyoshiro Tohdoh" the Japanese man stated.
Lelouch nodded his head, "Now I remember you, we met when I was staying a Kururugi Shrine. As I recall you were the only Japanese commander to win a battle during the invasion."
12 Minutes Later:
"I see, you are Zero" Tohdoh said impressed, "You have chosen the path of blood."
"Yes, but it seems like that blood will be mine," Lelouch responded embittered.
"So it would seem. But there is no shame in dying an honorable death. I am prepared to die, I've been so since General Tatewaki sacrificed himself."
Lelouch looked down not wanting Tohdoh to see the truth in his eyes. Katase Tatewaki... The man I killed. He reflected on VV's words, Am I really that different from him, I have shed the blood of my enemies, allies and the innocent when it suits me. Lelouch's fists tightened speaking while still averting his gaze, "Yes, sometimes a good death is all a man can hope for."
Elsewhere in the Government Bureau
Cornelia was scowling, "These damned elevens are getting arrogant, to just attack this facility like that." And what if they stumbled on my brother? "We must insure that this sort of thing never happens again. You say they were attempting to rescue Kyoshiro Tohdoh?"
"Yes your majesty, it seems the 'Four Holy Swordsmen' have thrown their lot in with the black knights after the dissolution of the JLF," Darlton explained.
"Call a press conference, tell them that every rescue attempt will be met with the intended being hung, drawn and quartered," Cornelia said with venom in her voice.
Darlton went pale, "Y-Your majesty I know he's a terrorist but isn't that a bit harsh no viceroy has ever given that punishment to insurgents it's reserved only for traitors and hasn't been used for over a hundred years."
"He is a traitor" she spat back, "He is subject of the crown and he waged war against it, personally trying to attack me. Do what I say!"
Lelouch watched as guards interrupted his discussion with with Tohdoh. One the guards smiled as they took the colonel out of his cell. The guard on his right couldn't contain his mirth, "That rescue attempt really pissed off Princess Cornelia she's slated a public traitors execution for you... immediately."
"Nooo!" Chiba screamed, "Take me, he told us not to try and rescue him, its not his fault," she banged against the glass.
Tohdoh looked at the distraught woman, "Chiba, follow Price Lelouch, follow him like you would me, if you can make it out of here alive he can liberate the Japan *humph" Tohdoh was hit in the stomach by one of the guards.
"Japan doesn't exist you filthy number, now stop talking nonsense. What do you mean Prince."
"Ha, you fools don't know, I guess that's not the type of thing they'd tell lowly guards *humph" Another shot to the gut.
"He's just trying to confuse us. Lets get out of here. I'm going to enjoy the show. Drawing will break the will of any man."
Tohdoh laid on the rack breathing calmly despite the horrendous pain he was in. After fifteen minutes his muscles were torn his sockets dislocated and yet he refused to kiss the imperial seal. The elderly man leading the 'show' was stupefied, "You a subject of his imperial Highness, kiss the seal and end this mercilessly."
Tohdoh spat on the seal, "I have never sworn allegiance to your emperor"
"It does not matter you are a number and thus one of his subjects."
Tohdoh sneered looked straight ahead.
Finally a hot red ironing brand was used. Shoved deep into Tohdoh's belly. Even the stalwart Tohdoh could not conceal his pain as he writhed in agony chocking and gasping on his pain.
The head executioner knelt down, "Just say 'mercy' and it shall be given,"
Tohdoh looked the man in his eyes and attempted to mouth a word. The executioner smiled triumphantly, and spoke loudly towards the camera, "The prisoner wishes to speak a word," the camera zoomed onto the Tohdoh's brutalized form as he gained his breath.
Tohdoh bellowed his final word with all his Japanese pride, honor, and strength "FREEDOOM!"
The man that stood over Tohdoh shook his head, "Hang him. Then decapitate and quarter him."
A/N: Hmm. I wonder did you guys make any assumptions based on the chapter title? I'm afraid things are going to get worse before they get better and then they'll going to get even worse and the ending will be somewhere in between. Honestly though I have enough material for like 100 chapters. I didn't spend that six month hiatus doing nothing, I've written loads of outlines and plot summaries.
OK a certain scene was 'inspired' (*cough stolen) from a certain movie. Can you tell which scene and from which movie. I think I'm going to have more of these type of challenges. But the movies are going to get pretty obscure not big time ones like this one. But I'll give you more hints to help you for the obscure movies.
Oh and I have been reading your reviews, thanks to everyone who's been reviewing. And for possible romances I have a few different routes planed out. And lets just say we haven't seen the last of Villetta. As for Cornelia I have written a romantic pathway for her but I probably won't be using it, but Euphmia, well her fate is determined.