Beneath the moon's spectral glow, the courtyard played host to a throng of disdainful nobles parading forth with goblets raised. In their midst, Lelouch strode forward, with Clovis, Schneizel, and the Knight of Three trailing in his wake. Kallen followed behind them, her visage resolute and focused.
Lelouch stared at the girl, wrestling with vexation. Uncertainties and hidden variables tormented him, as they often did, for their inevitable companion, fear, lurked in the shadows. Memories of the train bombing lingered - rousing under wreckage, his improbable rescue, all at Kallen's hand. The question persisted - who was she, truly? Did it really happen? Had she truly, somehow, pulled him out of the rubble?
The memory remained vivid, refusing to fade like a stubborn stain. It was difficult to believe that it had actually happened, yet Lelouch remained certain that it did. He wasn't yet driven to madness, not yet at least. Kallen had managed the impossible, saving him from the wreckage in mere moments before suddenly vanishing. It was a miracle, and acceptance of this miracle had taken days for Lelouch to accept as the truth; the fact that something that should have been impossible had, indeed, happened.
Or maybe he really was going mad.
It happened, he thought, averting his gaze from the focused Eleven. It did. The notion of her being genuinely capable of extraordinary feats filled him with apprehension - if she truly wielded powers beyond his comprehension, he was placing himself at risk by keeping her close. His first day with her had alleviated that fear somewhat, but the prince still felt uneasy at times in her presence, no matter how well he hid it.
He loathed the fact he had taken advantage of Suzaku to get her close to him. But the risk and regret were worth it. Whatever it took, he would uncover the truth about Kallen, the truth about that faithful day of the bombing. But for now there were more pressing issues at hand. He would soon act.
Two Sutherland entered the courtyard.
The spectators clustered behind the demarcated line, murmuring with anticipation at the prospect of witnessing a Knight of Round in action. As the two soldiers dismounted and transferred the keys to the combatants, Lelouch reminisced about his own bout against the Knight of Three years prior. At the time, he had fancied himself a proficient pilot, but when measured against Gino, he was little more than a novice.
Suzaku had praised Kallen's piloting expertise: the best I've ever seen, he claimed. But Lelouch harbored doubts. The gulf in skill between Japanese pilots and the Knights of Round was surely vast. Yet Kallen had volunteered herself to spar against Gino; it was no wonder people often mistook bravery for foolishness.
A bit of modesty will do her good, Lelouch mulled. While he admired her strength, it made her challenging to manage. He still bristled at her audacity in speaking up against Clovis, even if it had been to his benefit. Perhaps I've granted her too much freedom, he thought. If the bout ended up as one-sided as he expected, her defeat would humble her, enough so that he may be able to shorten her leash.
The red-haired girl's lips curled into a smile at the sight of the Sutherland, her sapphire eyes gleaming as she examined the machine, as though she were appraising its dimensions and capabilities with a mere glance. "Tell me, Wolf, how many rounds is it again?" she inquired, her tone light.
"The match is determined when someone wins ten rounds, with each round awarded to the one who lands the first blow," he explained, his voice steady. "However, there is a knockout rule in place. If either of you incapacitates the other's machine, that will result in an immediate victory." Her nod indicated her understanding, her gaze unwavering as it remained fixed upon the Sutherland.
"Then this bout will be settled in ten rounds," she said with a wide grin. Her confidence was respectable, but Lelouch stifled a chuckle behind his stoic facade. Indeed, a dose of humility would do her good, and he believed Gino would provide it.
Suddenly, memories of the scene weeks ago flashed in his mind once more - Lelouch and Kallen trapped under the rubble, and how she had miraculously saved him. He frowned, his facade breaking. If she was truly capable of such extraordinary feats... He pushed those troubling thoughts aside and retrieved a phone from his pocket, tossing it towards her.
The young woman caught it with a puzzled expression, which prompted him to explain, "In case of an emergency, I'll contact you through that."
Kallen frowned, scrutinizing the black phone. With a suspicious glance, she stashed it in one of her coat pockets. "Why now? Hell, I already have a phone," she said, pulling out her own phone for a moment.
Lelouch simply smiled and said, "Keep it. I'll contact you in case of an emergency."
He would deal with Clovis first, and then he would unravel the mystery behind the blue-eyed girl.
As Kallen climbed into the Sutherland, a peculiar sense of comfort enveloped her. The machine felt almost like an extension of herself, familiar and responsive. Leila, Lelouch, Naoto - all her worries and doubts - receded into the background as she gripped the controls and confronted her opponent. A Knight of Round! The thought brought a smile to her face.
Gino's voice came through the Knightmare's radio, "Do you need more time? I can imagine it's quite different from your Burai." Kallen paused for a moment, taking in the new controls of the Sutherland. "I'll manage," she replied with a cool voice.
She could practically sense the young knight's self-assured smile from within the other machine, and Kallen knew what was coming. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. "I don't like hurting ladies as pretty as you."
Kallen laughed. "And I don't like hurting boys as pretty as you," she retorted dryly.
"Very well then, get into position," he said with a chuckle.
Kallen brought her Sutherland to a halt behind a line, eyeing Gino across the field. Though he maintained a playful demeanor, she sensed that the Knight of Three was not taking her lightly.
She smiled.
The bout began.
Kallen's Sutherland bolted forward, its movements agile and fluid. The Knight of Three, conversely, advanced with cautious precision, his weapons at the ready. Playing it safe, is he? Kallen closed the gap. Without warning, she slashed at Gino with one of the Sutherland's tonfas and darted past him with her speed. However, the Knight of Three swiftly reacted, parrying her assault before turning to confront her once more. Undaunted, Kallen steered her Knightmare back towards Gino.
She halted her charge in front of Gino's machine, initiating a series of strikes, which the Knight of Three blocked as he retreated. Kallen mirrored his retreat, anticipating his next maneuver. Gino's tonfa flashed upward in a lightning-fast attack, aimed at her cockpit. Kallen blocked it, but Gino followed with a second strike, which she evaded.
Gino suddenly lunged forward, and Kallen grinned as she swung her tonfa to strike, but the Knight of Three skillfully dodged to the right. She quickly pivoted her machine to face him, expecting another assault that never came. Instead, Gino continued to veer to the side, and Kallen pursued, their machines circling each other as they parried and evaded one another's lightning-fast blows.
As Gino unleashed a barrage of blows from a distance, Kallen grinned. She propelled herself through the storm of attacks, blocking and parrying Gino's strikes with her own tonfas. But suddenly, the Knight of Three's machine dropped to the ground, sweeping the floor with one of its legs. Kallen attempted to leap out of the way, but her reaction was a fraction too late.
With the thud of a blow sending her machine tumbling it to the ground, it was evident that Gino had scored a hit.
The two machines returned to their starting positions, the crowd's gasps and cheers still resonating in Lelouch's ears. His eyes scanned the throng, observing the faces of the onlookers. In the front, Clovis sat with an air of smug satisfaction, likely boasting of Gino's abilities. Lelouch's gaze shifted further afield and spotted Euphemia standing unobtrusively in a corner, her eyes glued to the machines. It was the sight of Schneizel, standing beside her and staring intently at back at him that gave Lelouch pause.
He did his best to smile, and his older brother reciprocated before turning his attention back to the Knightmares. He recognized his brother's smile: I know, was what it always said.
Schneizel's arrival had caught him off guard; the man's presence indicated trouble. For months, he and Schneizel had conspired to secure Lelouch's position as Viceroy in Area 11. That only made Schneizel's choice to publicly announce Clovis's demotion even more perplexing. Surely he knew that Clovis would react furiously? Lelouch's brow furrowed in concern. He could not dally, he would deal with Schneizel at a later date.
Determined, he swiftly slipped into the crowd, searching for one more person.
He spied her, cutting his way through the crowd he grabbed her arm. The brown-skinned woman jumped in surprise, turning towards him with an irritated expression, before lowering her head sheepishly as she realized who he was. "Your highness, you startled me. Is everything alright?" Villeta Nu asked.
He held no trust for the Purist Faction, with their propensity for wanton destruction and indiscriminate violence. However, he had learned to rely on Villeta, recommended to him by Jeremiah, a skilled woman who always seemed to get the job done. Sadly, despite her usefulness, she remained hesitant to work with him, her loyalty to the Purist Faction far outweighing her loyalty to him.
Perhaps it is time to do something about that.
"Come with me," he said in a soft voice.
The woman's back stiffened as though she had been whipped, and she nodded, her expression puzzled. As they walked away from the courtyard, the sound of steel clashing captured their attention. Kallen and Gino had begun their second round.
Kallen had put up a commendable fight in the first round, but the result of the bout seemed obvious to him; he would have to thank Gino somehow for humbling his new red-haired guard.
As minutes ticked by, Gino landed his second blow, securing a second win. The cheers of the nobles reached his ears even from a distance, some even chanting his name. He grinned softly in the cockpit, but a realization was gradually tightening around Gino like a serpent, preparing to strangle him.
This would be a difficult.
"My God, you move like the wind, Kozuki," he praised the striking girl over the radio. He had not erred in underestimating her, for only a fool would underestimate someone for their looks. Nevertheless, he could not deny that her clear blue eyes held a lively spark in his mind. And that hair! A fiery crown atop her head, blazing like the sun on a summer's day!
"Oh? You're moving just as fast as me, Knight of Three," Kozuki said over the radio in a half-serious voice.
This girl is something else, he thought, grinning broadly. Indeed, Gino's speed was on par with hers, but only for the time being. Unlike her, he had operated Sutherlands for countless hours, becoming familiar with every minute detail about the machine. He understood their limitations and capabilities, knowing precisely when to attack and when to evade.
Yet, in just ten minutes of piloting a new machine, Kallen Kozuki had already matched Gino's speed and agility. Oh, he still held other advantages, advantages that would last him the entire bout…he hoped. I need to win before she settles in, Gino thought, grin still wide as he rushed back into the fight.
Villeta trailed after him, her footsteps echoing in the hushed halls of the Viceroy's Palace. Lelouch loathed this furtive behavior, yet he recognized the necessity of acting swiftly before Clovis grasped the full extent of his demotion. He examined the deserted corridors, his senses keenly attuned to any spying eyes or ears. He stopped before an older man garbed in a drab gray uniform.
"Your highness," the man intoned as he offered a deep bow. Mathias, a servant, was one of Lelouch's trusted informants within the palace, had an uncanny knack for overhearing the idle chatter of the nobility. It always amazed Lelouch how reckless noblemen could be around servants, as if commoners lacked the capacity to listen!
"The canister," Lelouch began briskly. "I was informed you saw it."
Lara's information had proven invaluable in his search for the item the terrorists had attempted to pilfer during the train bombing. They now knew it resided somewhere within the palace, yet with hundreds of rooms, the task of locating it still seemed overwhelming.
"Yes, your highness," the butler replied, his voice tinged with a touch of uncertainty. "It was the oddest occurrence; they brought it in under cover of night."
"Where was it taken?" Lelouch urged.
The old man's lips trembled slightly as he pondered. "To the lower levels, close to the prisons," he finally answered, offering a slight bow.
Lelouch's lips curled into a smile. The basement was the most secure location in the palace but also the most conspicuous, and Lelouch had access to the entire palace. Oh, dear half-brother of mine, your lack of ingenuity astounds me. "Good man, you may leave," he dismissed the butler with an inclination of his head.
Villeta trailed Lelouch down the stairs, her voice hesitant as she asked, "Your Highness, what are we doing?" Lelouch paused. Best to address this problem now. He needed Villeta to be dependable, even if it required some coercion on his part.
"Villeta, have you pledged loyalty to any lord or prince?" he asked nonchalantly, locking his keen gaze onto hers. Despite her standing a step above him, Lelouch's imposing height maintained his dominance in the corridor.
"I serve no lord, your highness. I serve the empire," Villeta replied warily, her eyes avoiding his.
"Then the time has come for change," he declared with an air of delight. "Kneel, and speak your oath of fealty. You shall serve me."
Surprise flickered in Villeta's eyes, yet she did not waver. "I serve the empire, your highness," she reiterated, her head lowering in gradual refusal.
As if she had a choice.
Lelouch's grin widened, and Villeta recoiled instinctively. "Kneel, Villeta," he repeated, his voice infused with a darker amusement. "You will kneel, or I will make you kneel."
A vexed expression crossed her face, but she kept a silence that prompted Lelouch to sigh. He could not waste any more time.
"Are you not honored that I desire your service, Villeta?" he taunted her uncertainty. Her expression paled and flushed simultaneously. Lelouch ascended a step, drawing level with her. I need to keep pushing.
"I am honored, your highness, but my duties lie elsewhere," Villeta responded hastily, her voice faltering as she retreated from Lelouch's advancing figure. She seemed to shrink, her back pressed against the wall as he closed the distance. Her fear was palpable, which pleased Lelouch. This would be easier than he had anticipated.
"Your duties to the Purebloods? Is that where your loyalties lie?" He scoffed. "The very group responsible for countless atrocities against Elevens under my half-brother's watchful eye?"
Villeta's remaining composure crumbled, and her eyes darted to the side aside as if seeking an escape. "We did what we did, we did to secure Area 11, your highness" she said, her words barely audible amid Lelouch's derisive laughter.
A quick glance at Villeta showed that the woman was off-balance, he just needed one more push now. He would need to thank the Purebloods for their reckless existence, for they would be his coup de grâce.
"In your arrogance, did you truly believe yourselves beyond justice?" he asked, his back turned as he faced the bottom of the stairs.
"When I become Viceroy, I shall bring about change, Villeta. My reign shall show no mercy to those who engage in reckless and unjust violence. The Purebloods will no longer be protected by my half-brother," he asserted, his voice measured. "They, along with others, will face the full weight of my wrath. I shall demand double recompense for every life they have destroyed," he vowed, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "However, if you were to do as I say, perhaps I could find it in my heart to show your group some mercy."
He slowly turned to face Villeta, whose eyes were wide with shock. "Well? What are you waiting for?" he asked, his impatience clear.
Grimacing with anguish, Villeta knelt.
Kallen surged forward once more, unleashing a torrent of strikes that compelled the Knight of Three to give ground. Her attacks had grown more precise, her understanding of the machine's range now honed, and she had at last discerned the rhythm of Gino's own assaults. The fair-haired youth had endeavored to vary the pace of his attacks, some languid, others swift as the tempest, but by maintaining her position just beyond his reach, she felt nearly untouchable. Almost. Gino had prevailed in the first four rounds of their contest, yet Kallen was steadily closing the gap.
With a nimble cascade of blows, Kallen forced Gino's machine to retreat. One of her tonfas struck with particular force, causing Gino's machine to reel even as he blocked the attack. Unyielding, Kallen lunged forward anew, but at the last moment, she veered to her left and delivered a side strike. Gino attempted to raise his defenses, but it was too late; the tonfa connected with his cockpit's flank, the blow echoing with resounding force.
A wave of exhilaration washed over Kallen, prompting her to brush her fingers through her hair as a smile crept onto her lips. Though the tally remained one-to-four, she felt fully in control of the tempo now. "Do tell, Knight of Three, are you sure you're an elite pilot?" she taunted over the radio, seeking to rattle her opponent. Kallen had learned long ago that angry opponents made for easier fights.
As expected, Gino did not yield to Kallen's taunts. "I won't fall for that again," he warned before surprising her with an invitation. "Are you available later? I know a remarkable coffee place just a few blocks from the palace."
"My boss would not approve," Kallen replied simply as they made their way to their starting positions.
"What if I win?" Gino proposed.
"Even less likely, Knight of Three," Kallen retorted.
Their next round was brief.
Gino launched a bold attack, but Kallen's Sutherland swiftly evaded him and she soon discerned his tactics. His reliance on tonfas at range and his attempts to ram her with his own machine became predictable. After a minute of cautious fighting, Kallen saw an opening and charged forward, Gino retreated further back, but she was faster, and her tonfa closed the gap.
With another resounding strike, Kallen's machine dealt a strong blow to Gino's. Two-to-four now, all she needed to do was wack him eight more times! Simple as that! With a relieved sigh, she retreated to her starting position, taking a moment to glance at the crowd through her side monitor. Lelouch was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared after the first round.
Did he leave because I was losing? The thought crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it with a laugh. The prince was likely relishing in her defeat and considering how he could use it to his advantage most likely. But Kallen had no time for such schemes and manipulations. This was the sort of thrill she lived for - a pure, honest fight between machines and pilots. There were no countries at stake, no lives on the line; just her pride.
Yet, Kallen couldn't help but picture the prince's purple eyes. Deep, dark pools, a black whole that seemed to suck everything around them. She had borne witness to his fury, his sly smile, and even his lifeless body slumped in a chair, saved only by her Geass. It was a mistake she couldn't afford to repeat, not with Naoto's life on the line.
Where is that bastard? Kallen's anger swelled in her chest. When she finally laid eyes on him again, she vowed to tell him something he would never forget.
Villeta followed him with unwavering determination, her head held high as if Lelouch had not just threatened her life. Lelouch would have to find another opportunity to work on her loyalty; for now, this veneer of obedience would suffice in case of unexpected events. They descended deeper into the bowels of the Viceroy's Palace, the hallways growing dimmer as they progressed, the vibrant carpets replaced by drab ones.
They moved with deliberate caution, pausing in alcoves, staying concealed in the shadows, waiting for guards and servants to pass. Lelouch didn't mind being seen, but the fewer eyes on them increased the less the risk. He intended to locate the canister, discover its contents, and depart before Clovis or that fat general Bartley caught wind of his intrusion.
The bottom floors of the palace were thankfully sparsely populated, and there were few rooms that could accommodate what he was looking for. Lelouch assumed there were only six or eight such rooms, and they had already searched three of them. As they walked in the hallways, Lelouch sniffed. This was it. A royal guard stood watch in front of a wide door, his pin indicating he was one of Clovis's royal guard. A regular occurrence in the palace, but this deep down? At this time of night?
He strode forward towards the door. The guard's eyes widened in surprise at Lelouch's sudden appearance. "I'm sorry, your highness. You're not authorized to enter this room. Viceroy's orders," he said, shifting to block Lelouch's path.
Lelouch strode confidently forward, ignoring the guard's protest. When the guard attempted to grab his hand, Lelouch's piercing gaze bore down on him, causing him to freeze. "Do you truly want to do this?" Lelouch spoke, his voice carrying an air of menace. "Do you think touching me is a good idea, soldier?"
The guard's mouth hung open, unable to respond. Lelouch leaned in closer, causing the guard to flinch. "The Viceroy's orders, you say?" Lelouch mused, his eyes locked on the guard's. He allowed the silence to stretch out before speaking again. "Move aside."
The guard swallowed nervously, his discomfort palpable. With a resigned gesture, he stepped aside, allowing Lelouch and Villeta to pass.
Lelouch's eyes widened in astonishment as they fell upon the behemoth canister. It towered almost as tall as a man and twice as wide, making the rest of the room look basic in comparison. A sudden weight settled in his chest, and his heart raced with anticipation. This was it: the object the terrorist had attempted to steal and what his half-brother was so desperately hiding.
He stilled himself, his breaths coming out steady and even. He couldn't afford to lose control, to let his emotions consume him. So he emptied his mind, creating a vast darkness where nothing existed. Yet, in this nothingness, a small flicker of light emerged, a tiny ember that threatened to ignite a raging inferno of emotions lest he controlled it. Thus, he tossed everything into the fire before it could grow, his fears, his desires, his love, his friendships, but the ember persisted.
Suddenly, in the emptiness, he saw her.
Kallen, with her fiery red hair and piercing blue eye stood before him, looking at him with a frown. That sounds cold, Lelouch, she said, her voice echoing in the void.
He felt a surge of anger at her presence. Why was she here, intruding in his mind? Why did you say that? Was it pity? Why would you ever pity me? I don't deserve pity. I don't need your pity!
The ember blazed fiercely, illuminating the darkness, a storm of fire that lit his void. Yet, its brilliance was fleeting, fading into a mere glimmer as Lelouch discarded his emotions to the flames once more. Within the remnants, only Kallen remained again: That sounds cold, Lelouch.
He cast her into the embers, and the ember died out, leaving nothing but the void.
He opened his eyes and scanned the room once more.
The room was austere, with plain walls and little decoration, a far cry from the ornate and luxurious spaces typically found in the upper levels of the palace. It was easy to imagine that it was once used to house servants or perhaps as a storage area, but it was now clearly repurposed into something different. The air was heavy with the scent of chemicals, and Lelouch could see various scientific instruments scattered throughout the room, along with tables and shelves cluttered with papers, samples, computers and cameras.
He pulled out his phone, he had been keeping track of where he was in the palace, and he had been writing down instructions of how to reach that location: once Kallen was done with her bout, she would come.
Kallen scowled, her frustration growing as she realized the Wolf was still not where to be seen.
Where has he run off to?
Gino's attacks came fast, but Kallen repelled them all with ease, countering quickly and slamming his machine. The score now stood seven-to-five in Kallen's favor.
And then this one!
"What is wrong, Knight of Three? Have you already given up?" she asked, her head swelling with frustration. Every round that passed, her battle with Gino became easier and easier, but she could tell it was not solely due to her improvements.
The Knight of Three was holding back.
"The best time to learn is when you're on the ropes," the Knight of Three remarked casually. "By fighting you, I've learned more about piloting a machine than in the last four months, and I plan to learn more before this fight ends."
Kallen's brow furrowed, skepticism etching across her face. Was that truly his intention? At first glance, his words made sense. When she had started honing her skills as a Knightmare pilot, she had relished the exhilaration of facing opponents who surpassed her in strength and speed. The challenge itself had fueled her improvement, and she took pride in her progress.
Yet, his words still pissed her off. It had been six long months since her last spar with Suzaku, the only person in Japan who could best her. And now, here stood this newfound challenger, and he was focused on learning rather than fighting!
"I'll savor the rounds you took seriously, Gino," she declared firmly. "However, if that's your intention, I'm determined to end this fight right here and now." Lelouch had previously explained it to her: if she could disable Gino's machine, it would signify her victory—a difficult thing to do with just one blow, but it could be done.
"Oh? Then show me the depth of your abilities, Kallen, and let us dance once more."
The round began, and the two machines rushed to meet one another. Kallen realized that Gino wanted to end it too. There would be no feints, no retreats, just one final clash and one trade of blows to decide it all. It would be decided in a moment, by whoever committed at the right time. Too early and you would likely miss, too late, and you would likely be struck first. The right time. The two machines neared each other, seconds stretching to minutes while Kallen kept her eyes open, waiting. Waiting.
Waiting for the right moment to strike.
THERE!
Kallen's weapon sliced through the air, smashing the enemy Knightmare with precision and shredding one of its arms. Gino's machine crashed to the ground, and the nobles in the courtyard murmured excitedly, louder than ever before. "Are you alright?" Kallen asked over the radio.
"My pride is wounded here and there, but nothing I can't shake off," Gino replied, his tone still light, but with a hint of dissatisfaction. "It was a good fight, perhaps another time?"
"Perhaps," Kallen said plainly, scanning the crowd of nobles with her machine, it was time to find the prince.
She couldn't help but smile faintly as she disembarked from her Knightmare. She had defeated a Knight of Three, and that was something no one could take away from her. With a hurried pace she approached the crowd she looked for the Black Wolf, but all she saw were a hundred noblemen staring back at her, murmuring and whispering. Kallen's face flushed with embarrassment; she despised this kind of attention. She pushed her way through the crowd, the whispers trailing after her.
"No surprise that the prince's lover is such a capable girl," a man said.
"For a young man like him? Oh please, being capable is secondary," a woman laughed.
"A she-wolf for a wolf!" another marveled in astonishment.
"No, she is his moon!" someone argued back.
With gritted teeth she did her best to ignore the crowd, their thousands of words, and her burning cheeks.
She scanned the crowd for Lelouch, but he was nowhere to be found. She frowned. Clovis was missing too, the only princes in attendance were the king-like Schneizel and that pink-haired princess who were both leaving their separate ways. Oh, where you have you gone off to, Wolf?
As she patted her uniform, searching for the phone that the prince had handed her before her bout with the Knight of Three, she felt a vibration. Her phone was ringing.
Lelouch's mind had swirled with speculations about the contents concealed within the canister. Simple theories crossed his thoughts: a deadly gas weapon, an advanced Knightmare frame engine, or even a rare and valuable painting. Yet, what he saw now surpassed any of his predictions. The photo he held evoked a hint of anger, even within the depths of his void.
"A girl?" Villeta uttered, her disbelief apparent, her face twisted in disgust as she looked at the photo.
In the photo, a green-haired woman with golden eyes gazed forlornly into the camera, her expression vacant, her body ensnared by a restraining jacket. "What have they done to her?" Lelouch calmly pondered, his gaze scanning the room for further clues. At first glance, he had assumed his half-brother's depravity knew no bounds, that this was a twisted pleasure of sort. Yet, as he delved deeper, a different truth began to emerge.
They had inflicted harm upon her, subjected her to countless drug experiments, including Refrain. Lelouch's hand trembled slightly as he recognized the name of the substance. "Why do they keep her restrained? And why is she confined within this container?" Villeta questioned, her voice still laced with shock as she grappled with their discovery.
"Who knows?" Lelouch replied simply. Their attempts to access the computers in the room had been thwarted by the lack of access codes, but the scattered papers and tools painted a distressing picture: she was the centerpiece of an experiment. Yet, the question lingered: for what purpose? Were they attempting to create a new drug? But why? Was it for profit? No, even with Clovis's opulent lifestyle, his half-brother had all the finances he needed. Was this perhaps then the work of General Bartley? Thousands of possibilities raced in his head.
"Open it," he finally commanded.
Villeta looked at him, uncertainty clouding her pretty features. "I'm not sure about this, Your highness," she said uneasily, her gaze fixed on the imposing canister, as if its contents spelled impending doom.
"Open it," he repeated, his voice firm. This time, Villeta straightened at his command and nodded. Reluctantly, she positioned herself beside the container and pulled down on a lever.
The room was filled with a cacophony of mechanical symphony. The screech of metal hinges echoed through the air, accompanied by the rhythmic ticking of gears shifting into motion. The whirring of machinery mingled with the soft hum of wheels turning, as if releasing the secrets held within. Each sound merged and harmonized, creating an ominous melody that reverberated in the chamber. And as the it finished opening, the Lelouch heard the door behind him open.
"So you knew," Clovis uttered, his tall figure casting a dark shadow. His sharp blue eyes pierced through Lelouch with an intense frown. The guardsman who had been guarding the door stood behind him anxiously in the background, alternating his gaze between Lelouch and the canister.
"Brother," he greeted his half-brother cordially, "did you enjoy the spectacle between my new retainer and the Knight of Three?" Lelouch inquired with casual indifference. "I trust it provided ample entertainment," he added, stretching his arms lazily while glancing at his watch. Lelouch's thoughts drifted to Kallen's whereabouts. She would be here soon if she followed his instructions.
"Leo," Clovis addressed his guardsman, ignoring Lelouch's banter. "Remove my brother from this room," he commanded, his gaze returning to Lelouch. "We shall discuss this matter privately, you and I."
Leo, apprehensively approached Lelouch, who displayed no signs of resistance. As a prince, he had no intention of engaging in such petty behavior such as resisting or fighting, it was beneath him. It was Villeta who took a sudden step forward, her handgun raised and pointed at Leo. The tension in the room escalated as Clovis's Royal Guard mirrored her actions.
"Drop it," Leo demanded, his fear giving way to a stern expression as he locked eyes with Villeta.
Villeta scowled, briefly shifting her attention to Lelouch. "Your highness?" she inquired, seeking his guidance. Lelouch concealed his inner smile, impressed by her unwavering defense of him. She would undoubtedly serve as a valuable pawn in the future. And soon Kallen would arrive, further shifting the balance in his favor.
"Keep it aimed," Lelouch commanded, striding forward toward the canister, his back turned to the assembled group. "Brother, you will explain the meaning of this," he asserted, inching closer to the container and peering inside. Resting on the frigid steel floor was the green-haired woman, tightly restrained in a straightjacket, reminiscent of the images he had seen before. Lelouch's gaze fell upon her gagged mouth as she lay there motionless, appearing almost lifeless, her breaths gentle in a deep slumber. "And, above all, why?" he demanded, emphasizing the crucial question. "What is this for? And why do you keep it a secret from me?"
"This matter falls solely under my purview, Lelouch," Clovis snarled, his voice resonating with intensity. "You are not Viceroy yet. I am under no obligation to provide you with any explanations."
"You tried to get this out of from Tokyo," Lelouch spoke softly, his voice filled with a hint of accusation. "That was the purpose of your whistle-stop tour, was it not? Not for peace, but to move the canister under the cover of celebration. But somehow, the terrorists were aware of its existence and launched an attack, nearly claiming our lives in the process. Who is she, brother?" Kneeling down, he extended his hand to gently touch the woman's forehead.
"Don't!" Clovis screamed, his panic reverberating through the room. "She is dangerous! Do not lay a finger on her!"
Lelouch came to a sudden stop, startled by Clovis's alarming outburst. He stood up slowly, his eyes fixated on the green-haired woman, his mind swirling with questions. Dangerous? Could she be afflicted by some contagious ailment? Stepping away from the canister, Lelouch refocused his attention on Clovis, his expression determined. "We shall converse now, brother, not tonight, not later; but now. You will tell - "
Clovis interjected, his voice brimming with defiance. "As I have already stated, Lelouch, you are not yet Viceroy. It is you who answers to me, not the other way around. However, I will concede to discussing this matter privately. At a later time."
Lelouch let out a weary sigh, he was growing tired of this resistance. How could he manipulate Clovis to comply with his desires? A dark notion crept in, tempting him: perhaps if Clovis were to meet his demise, it would undoubtedly simplify matters. But no, he couldn't allow himself to sink to such depths. Shaking his head, a wry chuckle escaped his lips. Instead, he would employ a different approach—simple yet impactful words. Words that would threaten to strip away Clovis's opulent lifestyle and pleasures. Yes, that should be enough to bring him to heel.
But suddenly, the tense atmosphere shattered as the door behind Clovis was violently flung open. Standing there, a captivating figure filled the doorway—Kallen Kozuki. Her crimson hair cascaded like fire, accentuating her fair complexion, while her piercing blue eyes shimmered with an almost ethereal intensity. Undeterred, she strode into the room, disregarding the voices of Leo and Clovis that reverberated through the chamber. Unfazed by their exclamations, she advanced steadily, her gaze fixated solely on Lelouch. The cacophony of Clovis's screams, Leo's protests, and Villeta's retorts seemed to fall upon deaf ears, as Kallen walked up to him.
A disquieting sensation took hold of Lelouch, something was wrong.
Kallen's unyielding gaze bore onto him, her eyes unwavering and wide open, emanating an intensity that unsettled him. And as he observed her once vibrant and lively blue eyes, he couldn't help but notice a profound transformation. In the dim lighting, they appeared as a deep, mesmerizing darkness—a swirling pool of midnight that locked him in place.
And with words that would forever be etched in his memory, she spoke.
"Lelouch," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "Schneizel is dead."
Author Notes: So, did I pull out the rug from under you?
How? When? Why? Read and find out.
So, this chapter took me a while to write because I had to edit out, A LOT. I don't usually edit after I'm done writing, but seeing the word count reach 12,000 was a sight to behold. A lot of it involved the bout between Kallen and Gino, some more Lelouch stuff, and a different POV character that I decided it would be best not to show. With this chapter we wrap up the first section of this story; what a day, huh? As always, I hope some of you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you have a good day/good night.
Anything after this is my own rambling on the story and on my writing as a self-reflection, I'm going to leave it here, because why not?
-I really wanted to do well in this chapter, but I'm not sure I did. I started off really excited it to write it, but it's such a difficult beast with multiple POVs, especially Lelouch. I really enjoyed writing the story from Kallen's perspective, it is a lot simpler; but I did enjoy the challenge, and I learned a lot.
-Speaking of multiple POV's, it was tricky keeping mind in check, AKA how much time is passing from POV to POV, so in the end I left it ambigious, especially when considering the ending of the chapter in mind.
-I've been writing a fierce pace for a while now, and sadly this chapter marked the first time in a while I just didn't have that much fun writing, and I got bogged down because of it.
-Man my prose has gotten so much better recently, but it's gone from non-existent to mediocre! I feel like my dialogue has been pretty bad though, sadly.
-Lelouch's POV was fun to write, but I don't think I did a good job. I'm sort of playing a game with him where I'm trying to unravel the curtain, but not too much. Sadly his POV is where I got bogged down. One thing I think I managed to do was make him a somewhat unreliable narrator. Overall, I'm pretty excited at writing Lelouch's POV in the future.
-The Cannister was the mcguffin for the first section of the story, and now that Lelouch has discovered it, we get a new character: C.C!
-The ending. Schneizel's sudden and off-screen demise is a huge part of this chapter and essentially the focus of the next 'section' of this story. It was hard to write this chapter too considering how I had Schneizel's death already written in, but not shown, obviously :)
-I've always thought most deaths in media kind of suck, mostly because their consequence and meaning is usually resolved shortly afterwards; not here, Schneizel's ghost I hope, will haunt this story until its end.
-Schneizel's death is the only thing in the story I already had planned out thoroughly in my head, how, why, when, etc. I like having things built on, so I felt pretty jarred writing a death so sudden, like ripping off a band aid; but that was my intended effect. I'm trying to write things in ways I don't usually write to get myself out of my comfort zone. Not happy with the result, but I think I learned a few things.