Stage 14 "Avalon's Shadow"
A large group of people were gathered at the funeral service for Joseph Fenette. Many surrounding the coffin were family friends, and colleagues of the departed. The preacher holds the bible close to his chest while performing a eulogy on behalf of Shirley and her mother. "To his wife he was a responsible husband. To his child, he was a wonderful father. With that may he rest eternally in peace." Shirley and her mother look in agony while the dirt is placed over the coffin and soon the plot is covered entirely.
"Please stop it…" Shirley's mother lunges forward, and falls to the ground over the covered plot. Her hands grip the dirt while tears stream down her cheeks. "Please don't bury him! Don't make him suffer any more! Darling…Darling!" She shouts out while her emotions quickly break down. Shirley walks over and tries to console her mother. "Mother…please papa is in a better place now."
Feite looks over while her hand clenches deeply over her heart. She wasn't having an attack, but the memory of Shirley and her mother opened up a memory long since sealed away in the back of her mind. Milly looks over and before she could console Feite Rai's hand touched her shoulder. "You don't have to be here Feite…" She shook her head and wiped the tears away with a handkerchief. "No, I need to stay in order to show Shirley that we are with her. Although being here brings up painful memories." Milly looks over with a pair of sorrowful eyes while nodding softly. "Feite still hasn't recovered from her father's death…" Rai's grip grows tight on her shoulder while he looked up at Shirley. "It must be hard to lose a loved one…if only it was easy to make someone forget their painful memories…" Lelouch looked forward although flashbacks of Narita were rapidly appearing in the recesses of his own mind. Feite looked forward, and closed her eyes while letting out a faint smile.
Flash ten years ago
"Papa, you're going to be alright okay? Mama and big sisters Azalea and Callia won't stop crying. Your heart is going to be okay right papa?" The seven year old Feite clings to the side of a bed in a hospital somewhere in mainland Britannia. Her father with features obscured smiles at her and pats the small girl on her head. "Papa is going to be fine, but be a big girl and try to comfort your mama, and sisters." It was apparent that her father was holding back the grim news. "Papa?" Her father's hand falls limb while the loud sound of a flat-line fills the small room. "Papa? Did you fall asleep? Papa wake up." Nurses and doctors quickly enter the room and Feite is pulled out of the room screaming at the top of her lungs.
Back
Feite opened her eyes and looked at the funeral while Shirley's mother is soothed by one of the Fenette family. Shirley looked down at her father's headstone, and turned around to face everyone. Kallen bowed forward with hands folded over her lap. "I'm sorry Shirley…" Feite bowed her head while wiping her sleeve over her eyes. "Shirley, if you need to…" Rai bowed her head, and nodded. "If you need anything please don't hesitate Shirley." Shirley looked at everyone and shook her head. "Please everyone, you don't need to be sorry…." Rivalz shook his head, and clenched his fist. "It's just when we watched the hotel jacking back then I thought the black knights were cool, I even posted something about Narita being cool on a message board. I'm sorry Shirley, I feel horrible." She walked forward and let out a faint smile. "It's not like that Rivalz you didn't do anything wrong. None of you did anything wrong…what happened at Narita was…" Shirley smiled while Milly immediately took a step forward and placed her hand on Shirley's shoulder. "Enough, most importantly of all, I'm worried for you. Have you cried it out? It'll be more painful if you bear with it and do it later." Shirley looked down with the same fearful look on her face. "I'm fine now, I've cried…" Feite shook her head, and took a step forward. "There is never enough, you can't simply lock away emotions. Shirley, if you need to cry please do so. You don't want to hold back your tears and regret them later."
"Despicable!" Everyone turns over to Suzaku while he stood clenching his fist, and growling lightly. The Order of Black Knights…Zero they're all despicable. They don't start anything by themselves. They only ride on the coattails of everyone, and act when they want to. They think of themselves as judges, and indulge in their victory. Nothing changes by doing that. It's worthless by achieving results using those methods."
After hearing that Feite and Kallen's hearts sunk deeper into their chests. They felt the pain due to them being there in the fray of battle. Lelouch's heart weighted heavier than the two, he had given the order, calculated precisely how to use the excavators. A small miscalculation had lead to this disaster, and now he couldn't say a word. He had instigated something that had caused Shirley, and her mother such grief. Milly exhaled while closed her eyes after Suzaku's speech. "Well, isn't it time for us to leave?" She opened her eyes and stared at Shirley. "If you're in need Shirley, I'll always be there in the student council room. That's why." Milly turned around and clapped her hands together. "Okay everyone, let's go." Rivals walks in front of Lelouch while the group started to go towards the exit. "Hey, Lelouch we're…" Milly quickly pushed at Rivalz back and forced him to walk forward while she looked out the corner of her eyes.
"We should get going; it might start raining again…" Rai looked over at Shirley and bowed his head. "We'll wait up for you guys at the entrance. Are you coming Feite?" Feite shook her head, and nodded while jogging over to him. "Yes…" Rai looked down at her while she walked casually at his side. "Feite, I'm not sure if this is the right time, but would you like to get a coffee with me? I don't think I can go to work again after seeing your tear stained face in my head." Rai paused for a moment while he threw his hand onto his face, and shook it. "I mean, I just…" Feite let out a small sigh and shook her head. "You must be a weirdo Rai, asking me out at a time like this…" She closed her eyes and nodded softly while they continued off down the path.
Milly looked over at Feite while she walked casually beside Rai. She let out a smile while everyone boarded up in the back of a limousine. "I'm glad to see her acting like normal again, but why was she so late to the dinner last night? Could it be that Rai and Feite are having a secret relationship together?" Nina looked over from the limousine. "President, are you okay?" Milly put her hands on her hips and smiled. "Nothing…" She cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled at Feite, and Rai. "Are you guys coming? Or are we leaving you two behind?"
"I guess we can't have that coffee if we're stuck in a graveyard right Rai?" Feite looked over her shoulder while she jogged forward. Rai looked up at her while his cheeks turned a slight hue of red while staring at the cleavage made by her skirt bouncing. "Yeah…" He shook his head, and picked up his pace while the two reached the limousine. "Ladies first…" Rai held the door open and motioned with his hands while Feite climbed into the back. Rivals scooted over in his seat, and frowned at Rai. "Why can't I be cool like that guy? Why did he have to be so cool and wear his military uniform?" Milly let out a sigh, "Did you guys see Lelouch when you were leaving?" Feite shrugged her shoulders while Rai let out a nod. "He'll be a few minutes; it seemed Shirley had a few words to say to him while we left."
Moments later, a private jet landed on the airstrip where Euphemia and Dalton waited for the passenger to disembark the craft. Euphemia let out a smile while turning to Dalton. "Why are you so nervous Dalton?" Dalton let out a small laugh and shook his head. "I'm not nervous Vice Governor; it's an honor that you chose me to escort you today. I had no Idea that we were meeting someone." Euphemia let out a nod, and turned to the jet. The hatch opened while the ladder was raised to the side. "Looks like she came here personally." Euphemia giggled while covering her mouth while Dalton's eyes widen at the beauty disembarking the shuttle.
The woman was appeared to be youthful in looks, but she was well into her mid forties. Her wavy blonde hair was tied back into a neat bun while her piercing deep blue eyes turn to the Euphemia and Dalton standing below. "My, you've grown up into a beautiful woman Third Princess Euphemia. I hardly recognized you…" She let out a small laugh while descending the stairwell. Euphemia bowed her head, and smiled. "It's always nice to see you Lady Elsa Avalon; it's rare for you to come to area eleven personally." Elsa walked over to Euphemia, while fanning herself with a Japanese-designed fan. "Well, Azalea told me that my daughter was so lonely over here in Area Eleven that she needed her mother's embrace, or is it the other way around." She let out a small laugh while Euphemia let out a small giggle. "You still have the same personality, now I know where Feite gets it from." Elsa turned over to Dalton and folded her fan against the side of her palm. "Oh, may I ask who this handsome knight is?" Dalton took a step forward, and bowed with his arm across his chest. "I am General Andreas Dalton; it's a pleasure to meet you." Elsa let out a smile, and covered her mouth. "My such a gentleman, it's nice to see a soldier that cares about people instead of the weapons we make for the military." Euphemia held her hand to the waiting limousine. "Shall we get caught up in the limousine Elsa?"
Elsa tapped the fan onto her gloved palm and smiles. "Yes, I would like to know what my daughter has been doing recently. I heard that she was allowed to leave and travel to India a few months ago." Euphemia paused for a moment and let out a vibrant smile. "I was told that she visited a lot of ruins, and had an adventure over there. I could say that I'm Jealous…" Elsa shook her head and placed her hand on Euphemia's shoulder. "Oh nonsense, you're the third princess, Feite is just a noblewoman who doesn't have a care in the world. You on the other hand have the potential to change the world my dear. Now shall we go visit her together? It's odd not to see Lady Cornelia here. Is she busy with work?" Dalton let out a nod, and opened the door to the limousine. "Yes, as a matter of fact I might have to leave in order to attend to Cornelia's side. Is that okay with you Lady Euphemia?" Euphemia climbed inside, and let out a soft nod. "Yes, Dalton I don't think I will be under any harm when I'm with Elsa." Elsa smiled at Dalton and paused for a moment. "I thank you for allowing me to meet you Lord Dalton, I'm enchanted." Dalton let out a firm nod, and closed the door behind her. "So that is Avalon's matriarch, no wonder where they get their beauty from."
Feite walked down the street back towards Ashford Academy while holding a warm cup of coffee in her hands. Rai walks slowly by her while nonchalantly sipping from his coffee one handed. "So, I heard that you quit the track team a while ago. I thought you liked the competition." Feite looked at the steam coming out from the white plastic lid, and shook her head. "I didn't like the competition, to tell you the truth; it was hard to keep up with the other girls. I had to diet so much, and it was really painful when Milly eats cakes in front of you…" Rai let out a small chuckle while the cross-walk turned green. "That sounds like her, but hey what do you think about Lelouch and Shirley. They make a great couple right?" Feite paused for a moment while she let out a faint smile.
"I guess they look good together, it's just I'm a bit jealous. I've been too busy with school with even think about dating." Rai rested his arms behind his head while walking casually beside Feite while they crossed the street. "Well you should have a lot of free time now that you're free from track." Feite looked back at Rai and let out lighthearted laugh. "Are you implying something Rai?" Rai goes to speak only for his cell phone to ring mercilessly. "Talk about bad timing." Feite pauses and stares at Rai while he answered the phone. "Private Creswell, oh Cecile what is this about? I thought I had a few hours before I had to get back to duty." His mood quickly changed to that of a somber one while slowly hanging up his phone. "Duty calls?" Feite leaned over and looked up at his disappointed face. "Yeah, but hey I'll catch up with you tomorrow." Rai walked off to the side of the street while waving behind his back. Feite bowed from the curbside and waved back. "I'll see you than Rai." She turned away while her hand gripped her chest. A small amount of pain surged through her while she quietly held in the pain.
It took her a few minutes longer than needed, but Feite walked into the central quad of the academy. Her eyes pause to catch a glimpse of a white and gold trimmed limousine. The Britannian flag at the front annoyed her while rubbing her temple. "Who's visiting now?" She groaned while passing the fountain and took a glance at the Administration office. "Oh my, Feite is that you?" Euphemia let out a smile while taking a look at Feite dressed in her school uniform. "Uh…Princess Euphemia what brings you to Ashford?" Feite's back tightened up while a chill ran down her spine. "I escorted someone here, although I did have ulterior motives myself." Euphemia looked up at the fountain, and sighed. "I was a bit too late to see the person I wanted to, but at least I will get to see you smile again Feite." Feite tilted her head while shooting the princess an odd stare. "Huh? What do you mean by that? Wait a minute; you didn't escort Azalea here did you?" Euphemia looked over her shoulder, and shook her head. "No, as a matter of fact…."
Elsa elegantly walked down the pathway and smiled after seeing Feite stand beside Euphemia. "Euphemia, I'm glad that you found my wayward daughter for me. I was beginning to have to resort to having those boys from the student council help find her. It's been two years since I've seen you Feite; I have many things to tell you." Euphemia shook her hands, and bowed her head. "No, problem at all…I'm going to have to attend to some business in my sister's absence, so farewell. I hope that you have a joyous reunion." Feite turned away from her mother and bowed over to Euphemia. "Thank you for visiting Princess; it's always a pleasure to talk to you." Euphemia covered her mouth while giggling. "Feite, you don't need to be so formal with me. Please call me Euphie like old times please."
"It would seem that having the Avalon name is something of merit." Milly looked out from the meeting room window to catch a glimpse of Feite and Euphemia exchanging goodbyes. Nina looked over from the window with a scowl on her face. "What's so good that she gets to be so friendly with Princess Euphemia? She's trash, why do I always feel inferior to whatever she does?" She clenches her fist and glares down at Feite. Nina shakes the devilish look of her face, and glances at Milly. "President isn't you related to Feite, surely since the Avalon's are popular with the royal family the Ashford's name would be held with higher regard right?" Milly stepped away from the window and crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes, my aunt is Feite's mother, but she gave away her Ashford name for the Avalon name. We are related, but there are some things that marriages can't fix."
After saying their goodbyes, Feite and her mother went up to her room in the dormitories. Elsa looked up at her daughter examining every step, and gesture on the way up. She glanced away with a troubled look growing larger at each passing moment. "Feite you can stop acting so strong around me." Feite was breathing deeply while beads of sweat had already started to run down her cheeks. "What do you mean mom? It's just been a really long…day." Elsa shook her head, and walked up the stairwell to get a glance at her daughter's face. "You're pushing yourself too far Feite, I received a call from Callia about your visit to the doctor. You don't have much time left do you?" Feite walked up to the doorway, and smiled briefly. "You're right mom, there's so much to do, but so little time."
Moments later, Feite lied on her back on the covers of her bed. A wet towel rested firmly against her forehead while her face had lost its healthy look. Her sunken eyes look over to Elsa while she at the bedside. "What a bad time to come visit…when I look so pathetic." Elsa let out a soft nod while holding Feite's hand. "Don't say things like that that is it I'm going to call an ambulance." She pulled out her cell phone and quickly dialed the emergency number. "I feel so tired…mom." Feite laid her head back, and closed her eyes. She drifted off into an unconscious while Elsa yelled out Feite's name over and over. The voice slowly became quieter while Feite seemed to fall into a deep sleep.
Milly walked across the quad holding a covered cake in her hands while walking over to the dormitory. She hummed a carefree tone while looking up at the window where Feite's room was located. The cake in question was Feite's favorite, which was also shared by her aunt. "I hope you like this you two. I'll consider it a welcoming cake for the two of you." The sound of sirens started to break the quiet ambiance of the school grounds while Milly turned over to spot the ambulance pull up. The paramedics quickly ran towards her with stretcher wheeling behind them. Milly's eyes widen while they rush past her and towards the girl's dormitory. "What is going on?" She takes a step forward; only to have a paramedic accidentally nudges her. Milly stumbles a few steps, and let go of the cake. She tries to catch it, but it hits the ground and spreads over the concrete. "What is wrong with my lucky today?" She leaned forward and pouted at her destroyed cake.
The paramedics rushed out of the elevator, and down the hallway. A few other students look over in shock while they stop at Feite's room. The lead paramedic opens the door and enters to see Elsa crying beside Feite's unconscious body. "Ma'am, are you okay?" Elsa shook her head while tears streamed down her face. "She's lost consciousness and won't respond to my voice." The paramedic quickly rushed over to the bed side while the others with him bring in the stretcher. He holds his fingers to Feite's neck feeling for her pulse. His eyes widen while he looks back. "We're going to have to take her to the hospital! Her pulse is getting weaker!" The paramedic with no time to spare picked up Feite and moved her to the stretcher. The others quickly strap Feite into the stretcher, and move out of the room. Elsa quickly followed them to the best of her ability.
Milly puts the last part of her cake into the trash, and wipes her hands with a handkerchief. She looked over at the dormitory with an uneasy look on her face. "I wonder what is going on…" The paramedics rushed out of the front door with Feite lying on the stretcher. A respiratory mask was over her face while Elsa ran beside the doctors. "No this can't be…" Milly's eyes widen, and her hands move to her mouth in shock. Elsa turned over to spot Milly, and stopped running. "Aunt Elsa, what is wrong with Feite? Is she sick, please what is wrong?" Elsa slowly turned away, while the paramedics entered the ambulance, and drove off. "Milly your cousin….Feite has been…" Milly shook her head while quickly embracing her aunt. "I knew it; Feite has been pushing herself too far hasn't she!" Elsa shook her head, while patting Milly on the back. "There are a few things I need to tell you. Is your grandfather still on campus?"
Inside the military laboratory, a few technicians work on a Knightmare frame while the Lancelot stood nearby. Lloyd held a clipboard while he stared up at the machine's name on the data pad. "My this is most difficult using the spare parts. Are you sure we should be doing this Cecile. My Lancelot is perfect already, why must we build another?" Cecile stood behind the main computer, and grinned over at him. "Suzaku needs support; the Lancelot doesn't have the power to fight against the black and red machine at the same time. Now that we have Rai-kun, we can at least try this." Lloyd let out a sigh, and looked down at the machine lying down on the maintenance bed. "My this Lancelot Club is going to be quite expensive if it gets damaged." Cecile smiled, while leaning over the main computer. "Lloyd, would you want to send Rai out in a weak Sutherland, or perhaps show Schneizel that we can perhaps mass produce our Lancelot into a cheaper unit." Lloyd looked over his shoulder, and gasped. "Our Lancelot?" Cecile glared over with an ominous aura moving about her. "Lloyd, do I need to remind you that I helped you out on the Lancelot?" She let out a smile while Lloyd turned back to the Club. "I don't need reminding, Cecile shall we return to work?"
Suzaku leaned against the wall dressed in his uniform while Rai entered form the hallway. "Oh Rai, it's about time you got here take a look." Suzaku pointed out into the laboratory and over to the machine lying on the ground. "Lloyd and Cecile are calling it the Lancelot Club." Rai's eyes lit up while he rushed to the window acting much like a child in a candy shop. "You mean, that machine is…" Suzaku let out a small laugh, and nodded. "Yeah, that is going to be your machine. I'm going to need help, and I don't mind if you're the one helping me out." Rai clenched his fist and couldn't hold back his smile.
Cecile turned around and waved over to Suzaku and Rai while they looked from the observatory deck. "Rai, Suzaku, you don't need to wait back there, please come in." Suzaku patted Rai on the shoulder while continuing forward into the main laboratory. "When do you think we'll be able to use the Club?" Rai took a moment to stare at the machine in construction at the far end before following Suzaku in. Cecile held her finger over her lips while shrugging her shoulders. "I think we could have it sortie right now, but it won't have access to most of the weapons we planned to make for it." Rai walked up behind the pair and rested his hands against his hips. "By the way, what's that long rifle looking thing over there?"
Against the wall, an elongated rifle rested on a pair of metallic claw mounts. By the looks it was a simple Sutherland Sniper Rifle outfitted with parts from Varis Rifle. "That's a Varis Sniper, you scored high on shooting, and I thought it would be nice to give you a weapon that will suit you better." Cecile looked over while the Club was raised to a standing position. Its dull gray frame made the Lancelot beside it shine in comparison. However, the unit with the dark colors looked rather ominous in combination with the horn mounted on the head. Rai shook his head; he couldn't believe that he would be given a custom unit. He was used to piloting the Sutherland, and just by doing a few simulations he was given a chance to prove himself. "Rai-kun!" Lloyd yelled from the floor level, and motioned for him to come down. "I need to perform an activation test. So please head over here."
In the clean office of the superintendant Elsa stood beside a depressed Milly while grandfather sat behind his desk with his hand rubbing his forehead. "Elsa, I'm disappointed that you kept this away from us for seventeen years. Why didn't you tell us? I could have done something…." Elsa turned away from Milly, and shook her head. "Father, I'm sorry…" Grandfather shook his head, and glared angrily at Elsa. "You call yourself a parent, and let your daughter get so sick? Why didn't you consider a transplant when she was younger?" Elsa took a step back, while turning her head away. "We believed that the medication would keep her healthy. The doctors said a heart transplant during her developmental stages would be too detrimental to her health. I can't say much, but please accept my apology. I've been a horrible mother to Feite." Milly wiped the tears off her face, and shook her head. "No, you haven't been. Feite loved every day here at Ashford. She smiled more than I could remember when I played with her. Grandpa, we shouldn't point fingers at anyone right now. We need to go to the hospital and support Feite with all we have."
Suzaku looks up at the Lancelot while rubbing his hand against the side of the leg. "Suzaku, Rai good news!" Lloyd walked into the hanger with a large smile stretched across his face. "We have an order from the unit directly under her highness, Princess Cornelia's Command!" Rai tugged at the collar of his blue pilot suit while letting out a loud gasp. "What? We're being deployed this early?" Lloyd let out a nod and leaned forward. Lloyd points his finger at the Lancelot and moves it over to the Club. "You two are required to participate in the upcoming operation!" Lloyd walked over to Suzaku making him take a step back while sighing. "Are you being recognized? Or are you going to be used as bait again?" Rai looked over with his eyes wide and pointed his finger at Lloyd. "What does he mean by bait?" Cecile walked in holding a tray of her odd mixture between Japanese and Britannian cuisine. "Lloyd-san, shall I teach you the proper way to communicate with others?" Lloyd shook his head while clapping his hands together. "About the operation…"
With the evening sun fading pas the horizon, the order of the black knights gather inside one of many dilapidated bays in one of the ghettos around the Tokyo settlement. "W-wait a minute Zero…" Ogi looked over from the back of the crowd with an uneasy look stretched about his face. It's true that Kyoto asked us for help…It isn't a problem for us to give it to them. As for the Japanese Liberation Front, instead of escaping overseas, they would rather choose to fight alongside us. However…" Zero turned away from Ogi completely ignoring his words while staring down at Diethard. "Informant…you are called Diethard, right?" Diethard let out a smile, and bowed his head. "Yes. Zero, it's an honor to meet you." Zero turned to the other members, and looked down at Feite before turning to Kallen standing next to her. "Cornelia has deployed the Naval Knight Order with the intention of capturing General Katase of the Liberation Front alive. Is that true?" Diethard nodded while slowly pulling out his notepad from his jacket. The armed members hold their guns closer, but pull them back after spotting the pad of paper. "Yes. They are preparing to make a special report back to the agency."
Zero crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "Also, it's rumored that Toudou has yet to meet up with Katase. So that must mean the Liberation Front does not have the military power to win. The only thing that they can depend on is the large quantity of liquid Sakuradite that they are using as escape funds." Ogi took a step forward with a confused face no longer. His eyes held onto a stalwart form of determination inside while glaring up at his leader. "Zero, isn't that why it's more important to let Katase escape first rather than fighting against Cornelia?" Zero shook his head and extended his hand to the roof. "Ogi, we are the Order of the Black Knights! There is only one thing that we need to do. We will rescue the surviving Japanese Liberation Front units by eliminating Cornelia's army. Forget about Narita, for tonight we take it all back!"
Kallen took a minute to look around the room only to spot the lifeless, and still battle scarred Voulge. Its frame still had cuts, and the paint had not been refinished. She tried to find Feite in the large crowd, and shook her head. "Zero wait a minute, shouldn't we wait for Feite to get here?" Zero paused for a moment and shook his head. "Kallen, we don't have time to wait for her. She isn't responding to my calls, and we will have to go without the Voulge. I have something to do, I would like for everyone to prepare…" Kallen paused momentarily, and glared up at Zero. Her hand clenched while reflecting on Shirley's funeral, and Feite's mysterious absence from this meeting. "But Zero!" He shook his head and flipped his cape. "Kallen, tell me later…"
In an assembly area in a separate dock, Rai sits inside the cockpit of the incomplete club while Cecile was bent over him checking the central OS. "Cecile, are you sure it wouldn't be easier if I were standing off to the side?" Rai tries to keep his eyes away from Cecile's rear by looking off to the side. His eye slowly turns while Cecile turns back. "No, it's easier with you here, so you can confirm the setting changes. The Club isn't fully operational yet, but you at least can utilize the speed, and the modified rifle we made for you." Rai pushed a few buttons and sighed. "I only have the land spinner, a substandard combat knife, and that rifle you cobbled together. Man this looks to be one hell of a first combat sortie…" Cecile climbed back while dusting her hands off. "Well, it shouldn't be that hard considering there might not be any resistance from the JLF. So just follow orders, and everything should be fine." Rai nodded a few times while looking over at Dalton speak with Suzaku. "It would seem Suzaku gets a special pep talk from the general?" Cecile turned over, and shook her head. "Suzaku is constantly being tested because he is a number, but unlike the others Dalton views people by their capability not race." Rai glanced at Dalton while he finished his talk with Suzaku and walked off. "I see, but man that guy looks pretty scary with that scar on his face." Cecile laughed while shaking her head. "You should keep jokes to a minimum around the seniors."
"You!" Dalton turned and pointed his finger up at Rai signaling him to come over. Rai looked over, and gulped while climbing down the platform to the floor. "Yes sir." He jogged the final distance over to Dalton who stared at him with a piercing gaze. It almost felt as if he were peering into Rai's soul trying to find something wrong. "You are the second pilot under Asplund right? The same goes for you, our target is Katase everyone else is a target. You're also unproven why does Asplund always recruit the green ones. Listen, this opportunity was given to the technical support division, and if you manage to perform over expectations you will receive a promotion is that clear?" Rai straightened his back and saluted. "Yes my lord, I will try my best." Dalton let out a nod, and started off. "You're dismissed, get your machine operating and wait for the order to deploy."
The sound of an electrocardiogram fills a small room inside one of the many hospitals in the Tokyo Settlement. It wasn't standard procedure, but Feite lied in the center of a medical capsule with the respirator on her mouth, and her clothing swapped out for a medical gown. A permanent scowl was etched onto her forehead while her gasps were echoing in the capsule. Her face was filled with so much pain while the doctors examined her from outside. "This is troublesome, the heart has deteriorated this much." The doctor shook his head while examining an MRI taken months ago to the most recent one from Mackenzie. He jotted down a few notes on the clipboard before turning to a nurse. "Make sure she's monitored every ten minutes. Have her parents arrived?" The nurse let out a small nod while turning over to the sleeping Feite. "Yes, her mother is out in the waiting room."
The doctor walks through the hallways and enters the waiting room. It was mildly populated with most wearing less somber faces than Elsa and Milly who were huddled together in the corner of the room. He looked around, and rubbed him temple. "Is a Mrs. Avalon here?" Elsa turned over and let out a nod while quickly walking over to the doctor. Milly followed over while the doctor signaled for them to move around the corner. "Doctor Wellington…" Wellington glanced at Milly and nodded at Elsa. "Feite is still unconscious, but we're monitoring her every ten minutes to find out a change in status. She however is showing a position reaction to the medicine we've given her. It'll be a temporary solution until her transplant arrives tomorrow. If you'd like to gather friends and family it would be a nice gesture for her." Elsa bowed her head and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you doctor Wellington, my daughter's life is in your hands." Milly gave Wellington an uneasy look while turning back to her aunt. "Elsa, I'll contact everyone for you."
Lelouch sat in the back of a darkened storage hanger with his back resting against a large metal crate. A wet suit had been pulled down to his waist while the neatly folded Zero outfit sat beside him. He rubbed his face with the towel, and tossed it to the side while turning to his phone. "Who would call me at a time like this?" A small envelope flashed on screen while Lelouch simply shook his head. He flipped it open and set it to the side. "If they left a message, I don't need to check it until later." Lelouch laid his head back against the metal crate and let out a relaxed sigh. Before he closes the phone, the message was in plain sight."Feite's in the hospital, she needs you Lelouch... Milly."
The doors open causing Lelouch to jump a bit while turning over to the sound. "Who is it?" Kallen's back straightens up while she looks over at the silhouette. "Ah sorry, excuse me…" Lelouch glares out of the corner of his eyes with a resolute feeling about them. "You seem confused Kallen." She turned her head away, while her eyes started to tremble. "I do it for the sake of justice…" She pauses, and shakes her head. "Even now, I'm fighting because I believe it's the right path to take." Kallen closes her eyes, and reopens them to turn over to Lelouch's silhouette. "That's why I kill people but…" She turns and takes a step over with her heels tapping on the concrete. "Can we really change the world with our actions?" Her arm flails outward while she passionately speaks over to her leader.
"We can change it, no we will change it!" Kallen shakes her head and takes a step back. "But." Lelouch turns to his side, and grabbed the towel. He clenches it in his hand while glaring forward. "Will sacrifices be made? People will get dragged in and die, even if they're not soldiers." Lelouch lighted his grip, and hunched downward. "That is why we must do something. No matter what methods we use, even if we know how despicable they are we must win. To do that we must embrace carnage, so to not waste the blood that had already been shed. We have no choice, but to shed more blood. That is why I won't force you. Kallen if you want to turn back, do it now." Kallen gasps for a moment, and quickly collects her emotions. She shakes her head, and smiles forward. "Let's head forward together. I'll go forth with you."
Nina sits in the computer lab while holding the phone against her ear. "Oh, she's in the hospital, I'm sorry Milly, but I can't get there. I have to help out a friend with something. I'll try to get there when I'm able." Her hand moves to her ear, and disconnects the call to her headset. Nina started to chuckle, and eventually goes into full blown laughter. "I'm sorry Milly, but I will never see her in the hospital. I hope your cousin dies the most painful way possible."
Rai sits in the back of the Club while playing a small game on his mobile. He lets out a grin while biting part of his tongue. "Come on, almost got the score…" His game quickly pauses while a message flashes on the main screen. Rai's eyes open while he throws his head back, and groans. "Come on how unlucky can I be?" He pushes the accept button and holds the phone to his ear. "Hey Milly, it's not a good time right now. I'm really…" Milly's troubled voice exits the receiver while Rai's smile fades away. His teeth clench together while he looks down. "She's in the emergency room? No way Milly, this isn't one of your jokes is it?" Rai threw his fist forward and punched the side of the cockpit. "I'll try to get there…don't worry I'll tell Suzaku…just make sure to keep Feite company…" He turned the phone off and glared up at the ceiling. "DAMN IT!"
Lloyd looked over while pushing his glasses up. "Hrm, did he get mad again because he couldn't beat the high score?" Suzaku shook his head, and turned over to Cecile. She stood up, and turned over to catch his gaze. "Something isn't right…I'm going to go check on Rai." Lloyd waved his hand, and ran the final check-ups on the Lancelot.
"Hey Rai, what's going on why did you yell like that?" Suzaku walks up to the computer console, and stopped beside Cecile. Rai pulled his fist back from the console, and turned over to Suzaku. "Milly called…Feite….Feite is." Suzaku took a step back; his eyes widened a bit waiting for the rest of Rai's words. "She's in the hospital Suzaku…She's in critical condition…" Rai shook his head while Cecile walked up to him. "Rai, its okay…" Suzaku turned his head away, and his hand quickly balled into a fist. "Did she get into an accident? What did Milly say?" Rai shot a glare over at Suzaku and growled. "Feite has a heart condition…she's been hiding it from us all along." Suzaku turned away and grabbed the side of the railing. "Damn it, it's so typical of her!"
An officer ran over and waved his hand. "The operation is about to start everyone get on your Knightmare, and get into position!"
Cecile placed her hand on Rai's shoulder, and shook her head. "You don't need to deploy, I can say your machine had a malfunction." Rai shook his head, and turned to her. "No Cecile, I'm going out. If we eliminate Katase, the JLF is finished, and possible we can restore some order to Area Eleven." Cecile took a step back, and smiled. "Okay, get into position. I'll load the equipment on for you." The cockpit slides forward and the Club starts to activate. "Suzaku, you better get to the Lancelot." Suzaku stared at the Club for a second, and rushed off towards his unit. "Suzaku was it the high score?" Lloyd looks over with a clueless look while Suzaku ignores him completely and climbs up into the cockpit. The Lancelot's systems turn on one by one while Suzaku stares at the monitor. He tightens his grip on the controls while looking at the Club on a side monitor. "First Shirley and now Feite, when will this world stop being so cruel!"
The Lancelot and Club walks forward with weapons in hand. The Club holds its weapon over its shoulder while the long barrel could be seen a few meters in the air. Cornelia turns over to it and her eyes widen at the two units standing side by side. "So they made another one, those bastards from the Special unit." Dalton looked up at the weapon, and nodded. "Let's hope it is just as useful as the first one. It should be about time to start my lord." Cornelia threw her arm forward, and yelled at the top of her lungs. "Begin operation!"
The Portman underwater Knightmare Frames detach of their drop docks, and into the pool of water below. They speed through the waves, and continue through the harbor. "We're free to use all our weapons, so don't hesitate men." The lead machine shoots it torpedoes at the harbor lock creating a massive pillar of water to splash up into the air. The ground based Lancelot, Club, and other Sutherland quickly roll alongside the concrete towards their support position.
Ogi looks through a pair of binoculars over at the explosion, and holds the radio to his mouth. "Zero, the battle has started; you're not going out yet?" He turns to the small landing craft at the end of the pier. It was loaded with the Guren, and a few Burai. Ogi holds the radio a few inches from his mouth and whispers. "Where is Feite at? She didn't show up at all." He shook his head and pushed the transmit button. "Zero, the Japanese Liberation front is…." Zero's voice plays back from the landing craft. "It's unsuitable to act now. Cornelia is acting earlier than anticipated. If we act now we surely will be defeated."
The Club came to a screeching stop, and kneeled down. The arm flew forward, and the scope on the rifle opened like a shutter. Rai reached up in the cockpit and pulled down a shapely targeting device shaped like a laser designator used by infantry. The light flashed over his eyes while the ship came into the range of his rifle. The radio crackled for a moment while an officer appeared on screen. "Start providing covering fire. Ammunition wise, please switch to micro bullets, and fire one at a time. Take care not to ignite the liquid Sakuradite." Rai glared forward, and quickly aimed at a JLF solder on the deck of the vessel. "You're not needed…." The Club and the surrounding Knightmare started to fire a hail of bullets at the infantry guarding the deck of the tanker.
Suzaku hesitates while his eyes tremble at the massacre. "This is no longer a battle…" Cecile flashes on the screen, and smiles. "Lieutenant Kururugi, It might be painful for you, but you are a professional soldier." The Lancelot quickly joins the others and fires its micro-bullets at the outmatched infantry on the deck of the ship.
Katase slams his hand against the desk in the captain's quarters while looking around. "Damn it how did they know that we were here! Where's Toudou? Didn't he say that he would initiate communication with us when he got here?" The officer beside him shook his head. "He did say that sir, but we have no way of contacting him, or the Holy Swords." Katase growled, while looking at the monitors. "Damn it how long will I have to tell our soldiers to keep up this worthless battle?"
On the deck, several soldiers stop firing and dive off the ship. A garbled message plays over an open channel indicating the surrender of the JLF forces on the vessel. Suzaku's eyes widen while he pushes his com switch. "Major, Sir there's a surrender announcement on the open channel." The major shook his head while the ship started to pull out of the harbor. "Ignore it; it's a feint to buy more time. Keep shooting."
"What is Zero thinking? It'll be over before we react!" Ogi looked over at the stationary landing craft, and threw his arm out. Diethard looked over from his position, and shook his head. "Let's hope Zero is not purely a theorist."
The Portman in the water shoot their harken from underneath the waves arcing them downward into the ship's hull. The aquatic frames start to pull themselves from the waters, and board the ship.
"Zero, if we don't act." Zero looked forward and smiled. "I know…" He grinned underneath the helmet while looking at the detonator held tightly in his hand. "There is only one escape route, and you're holding onto your precious liquid Sakuradite." He shook his head and pushed the bottom. "Enough, let's go."
In the distance, a device placed underneath the tanker shoots a heated beam underneath the waves. The beam breaks through the plating and into the cargo hold where the Liquid Sakuradite was stored. The beam heats up the Sakuradite, and like a chain reaction each one starts to explode. The tanker rises up in the waves while a blinding white light engulfs it tossing water, and smoke up into the air.
A thick breeze blows against Cornelia, Dalton and Guilford while they observe in the distance. "How foolish they actually ignited the Liquid Sakuradite?"
The shockwave was still pelting the shoreline defense unit with debris, and a thick wind. Some of the Sutherland are blown backwards while the Lancelot and Club stand stationary. "Damn it they actually committed suicide?" Rai pushes the targeting sensor up and quickly grabbed the primary controls. The Club starts to buckle while apiece of debris nearly takes the machine's head off. The machine buckles again while Rai let out a sigh of relief. "Damn that was close."
Zero stared up ahead while the landing craft rushed forward through the waves. "As expected from Cornelia, they committed suicide after luring in the Britannian forces." Ogi yelled into the radio while shaking his head. "But we weren't contacted about this…" Zero shook his head, and tossed the detonator to the side of the cockpit. "We shall continue forward, and attack where Cornelia's main forces are situated!" The Landing craft breaks past a few of the waves, and turns sharply towards the dock. "Don't worry about anything else. The result comes before anything. Don't let the blood of the Japanese Liberation Front be shed in vain! Capture Cornelia and show them our resolution and power!"
"Damn it, our guys are down in the water!" The remaining Sutherland shoot their harken to recover the damaged Portman that survived the explosion. The entire army was in disarray over the explosion while the Black Knights made their move. The landing craft flew forward off a wave and slammed across the concrete. A few of the binders below the craft break away while the huge ship crushes several Knightmare that were in its way.
Suzaku turns towards the explosion with his eyes widening. "Don't tell me that ship was just a diversion!" He looked at the explosions in the distance and turned to Rai. "We need to get over there now!" The land spinner deploy behind the Lancelot while it speeds off. Rai looks at the downed machines and shakes his head. He pushes a few buttons folding the rifle into its storage format. The Club's eyes let out an ominous flash while placing the compact rifle behind it skirt armor. Rai gripped the controls and blasted off after the Lancelot. He was pushed backward against the seat while the increased speed surprised him. "Suzaku, can deal with this speed? Man I guess I need to get better." Rai leaned forward while clenching his teeth together. The Club was easily a few meters away, and was losing the Lancelot while it once again boosts off ahead.
The smoke clears around the Landing Craft while its bay doors open. The Guren takes the front while the Burai are lined up behind it. Zero looks forward while scanning the area. "Send all their Knightmare into the sea, before their pilots can activate them! Guren Mk II follow me." Zero's Burai flies forward with the Guren taking up its rear. The other Black Knights charge out with weapons blazing. Cornelia's forces were quickly caught off guard while some machines are tossed into the ocean, and others simply shot to pieces by the Burai.
Cornelia's boards her Gloucester, and quickly tries to activate it. "You Highness please leave this to us." She growled over the radio while her face contorted like a caged beast. "Shut up. How can I let them make a fool out of me a second, or even a third time?" Zero's Burai slides across the floor, and tackles Cornelia's Gloucester through the wall. Her machine flies backward while she scowls at Zero's machine. "Damn you, before I could even activate it!" She grips the control and fires a Slash Harken. The weapon arcs to the side ripping off the Burai's left arm. "Do you intend to beat me in a Knightmare Frame Battle?" She gets her unit to its feet and aims the rifle directly at Zero's unit. A red harken flies overhead and knocks the weapon from the Gloucester's hand. Cornelia turns over to spot the Guren standing behind Zero's unit. "Damn it, it's the new machine again!" Zero fires his harkens during Cornelia's confusion and turns her Gloucester around. "I'm going to tear open your hatch, and drag you out. Cornelia…" Zero's system flashes red while the heat detector picks up a small human in the distance. "What is that?" The scanner zooms in showing Shirley while it switched into Night vision. Zero's hand froze over the control while his eyes widen. "Shirley?"
The Lancelot leaps over a stack of crates and lands on top of Zero's machine. The white armor rides the Burai like a surfboard only for a moment before the Burai flipped wilding across the concrete. The Lancelot leaps off before only to land in a crouching position. Suzaku lunges forward while gripping the controls tightly. "Zero, nothing will change through your methods! Seeking only results! Do you know nothing about the pain of others?"
Kallen charges forward only to have the early warning go off. She leaps the Guren to the side and her eyes widen at the sight of the Club standing where she originally stood. "Another one?" Cornelia got her unit to its feet and let out a laugh. "Heh, took you guys a long enough to get here." Rai looked at the side of his console and pushed his transmitter. "Sorry, Your Highness." He gripped the combat knife and pulled it out. "So you're that Red Armor I heard so much about!" Cornelia let out a smile, while her unit sparked wildly behind the gray Club. "What a voice that pilot has, it would see I underestimated both of Aslpund's pilots."
"As if you know who I am!" The Guren leaped forward and threw its left arm forward. Rai let out a smile while the Club merely leapt to the side and skidded across the concrete. Kallen's eyes widen while the arm was still fully extended. "Farewell to your precious left arm!" Rai lunged forward while the Landspinner screech loudly on the concrete. The Club flies forward and slashes down with its knife. Kallen's eyes widen while the blade slams into the forearm causing sparks to fly. "Damn it." The knife however cracks quickly and shatters against the thick armor causing the Club to fall forward. "Who's the idiot now?" Kallen let out a smile while preparing to use the Radiant Surger on the club. Her warning lights flash while Cornelia's unit tackles the Guren backward.
"Are those all the weapons you have? Asplund really must have been desperate to field that second unit out." The Guren skidded across the concrete while Kallen jerked around in the cockpit. "If only Feite were here we could…" Kallen's eyes widen while Zero's was being utterly trashed by the Lancelot. Her machine leaps over while Rai shakes his head. "I don't think." The Club stalls for a moment while its leg sparked wildly and keel to a kneeling position. "Damn it…." Rai jerked the controls while glaring forward. "Watch up, that red machine is at your six!" Cornelia stared down at the ruined leg joint, and shook her head. "Club, is your machine still able to move?" The Club jerked while it stalled trying to stand up. The metal creeks around the leg joint while a mechanical hum comes from one of its motors. "I'm stuck here…Your Highness you should leave me. I'll be fine here." Cornelia looked off into the distance and screeched off. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. "That pilot…"
With the battle raging around the area, Zero was left in the wreck that was his Knightmare Frame. He was still strapped into the chair with the cockpit flipped upside down. Shirley stood a few meters away completely frightened from the battle echoing around her. She held her hands close to her chest while looking down at Zero in the wreck ahead of her. Shirley took a step back only to have her shoe tap against something metallic. A handgun possibly Zeros had been thrown out and rested nearby her foot. "Is this Zero's?" Her hand shook while taking hold of the weapon. "If so then with this…" Her words stuttered while raising the weapon over to Zero. "I will…fathers!" Zero's body moved while he let out a pained groan. The helmet fell off his head, and Shirley gasped loudly.
In the hospital it was quiet with no sign of the battlefield being detected by the news for the moment. Milly sat at the bedside while Elsa walked into the room. "Milly, do you really want to stay here? You have school tomorrow right?" Milly looked down at Feite while she slept calmly. "I want to stay here for a while longer." Elsa let out a smile while looking down at her daughter. "Do you want me to get you something from the snack bar?" She paused for a moment and smiled. "Also you should ask that boy outside that came here to give you a ride home. What was his name again?" Milly let out a sigh and waved her hand. "His name is Rivalz, and I could use a drink…" Elsa let out a smile, and paused by the doorway. "He's asleep you know…we'll I'm off." Milly shook her head, and touched the side of the capsule Feite was sleeping inside. "You're worrying us too much Feite."
Feite's eyes started to flutter while her hand started to move. She opened her mouth and let out an uneasy groan. Milly gasped while she stumbles backward knocking the stool over. "Feite?" She falls down on her butt staring up in shock. Feite's eyes open halfway, but the vibrant green color was nothing much but a dull shade. "Milly…" She weakly spoke while her voice was muffled by the respirator mask. "Is that you?" Milly got up to her feet, and looked down at Feite. "Yes, it's me I'm here for you." Feite pressed back into her pillow and moved her arm slowly in front of her face. "I can't see my hand…Milly." Milly let out a few nods and shook her head. "Don't worry about that Feite, you're awake!" She turned to the doorway, while Feite coughed a few times. "Don't leave Milly…" The Electrocardiogram starts to spike loudly while Milly paused by the doorway. "I won't leave…we're cousins right? Family always sticks together." Feite takes a few short breaths and let out a smile. "Milly…please take care of……" Milly's face turned pale while the sound of a flat-line could be heard behind her.
The world slowed down behind her while seconds later Doctors and nurses came into the room. The doctor yells at the nurses while they quickly try to resuscitate Feite. Her body jerks from the Defibrillator, but her EKG still shows a flat-line.
"Please, you don't need to be here." A nurse slowly guides Milly out of the room while the EKG let out a small spike. Milly looked behind, but the door slides shut behind them. "Milly?" Elsa walks up holding a pair of soft drinks in her hands and soon paralyzes when spotting the nurse patting Milly on the shoulders. "Aunt…"Milly ran forward with tears running down her cheeks. "Feite…she's…" Elsa dropped the drinks onto the ground and quickly embraced Milly. The pair cries together trying to drown out the pain that was surging so heavily in their hearts.
It was a full thirty minutes after Feite had flat lined after regaining consciousness. The doctors were still in her room and the door remained shut. Not a single hospital staff member entered the room after the first responding crew entered. Milly had cried herself to sleep while Elsa waited while hunched over with a handkerchief held tightly in her hand.
"Mrs. Avalon?" A Doctor walked out into view of Elsa, while she looked up from her seat. "Yes?" The doctor's voice was serious, while he seemed to be a veteran of this specific hospital. He walked over and took a seat across from her. "We stabilized her, but we still don't know how long she'll stay that way." The huge weight that had been hard pressed on Elsa was slowly removed while a glint of hope shined in her heart. "Stabilized…" The doctor let out a smile, and nodded. "Yes, but we're not out of the woods yet. She is due for surgery first thing in the morning. You can see her now, but she's asleep."
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Writer's Alley
Thanks everyone for reading the fic so far.
This by far was probably one of the hardest things for me to write. However, I did get a chance to vaguely show off the Lancelot Club. If you're not familiar with it, its on Mahq, or simply google Lancelot Club.
Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this...