On to the second instalment of Code Geass: A New Ally. This will feature Sukai starting at Ashford (under an alias, duh) and another encounter with the Black Knights and Cornelia. So, read on and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass, just Sukai and his Knightmare.
Chapter 2: The First Day & Revelations.
A few days later, Kallen was trying not to fall asleep at her desk. Her double life as Kallen Stadfeld, the sickly, frail schoolgirl, and Kallen Kozuki, the fierce Black Knight member, made it tough to get a decent night's sleep.
"Man, I don't know how much longer I can take this." She thought, yawning, as the teacher came in, along with someone Kallen recognised.
"S-Sukai? What's he doing here?" she thought, stunned. Across the room, Lelouch was also puzzled.
"Hm, I'm not too surprised, seeing as he's half-Brittanian. At least this way I can keep an eye on him. I just hope Kallen doesn't give away anything." He thought, as he had never considered the fact that Sukai might start at Ashford Academy.
"Now then, we have a new student joining us at Ashford. Allow me to introduce Leon Schenburg. I'm sure I don't need to tell you all this, but please make him feel welcome." The teacher told the class. Leon (Sukai) sat down a few seats away from Kallen, as the teacher began the lesson.
"I'll try to talk with him after class, just so I know what he's planning to do by coming here." She decided, as she began paying attention to the lesson.
After the class finished, Kallen was talking with a few of her friends, when Leon (Sukai) came over, and asked if he could talk with her about something. Kallen agreed, at which the other girls squealed in excitement, thinking Leon (Sukai) was asking Kallen out.
"So 'Leon', what're you doing here?" Kallen asked, once the two were outside.
"What? I'm just here to learn, like you. Besides, I can't just work on my Knightmare all day." Sukai replied. Kallen nodded, realising his point. The two continued talking throughout the day, whenever they didn't have classes. Sukai felt himself growing close to Kallen, while unbeknownst to him; she was feeling the same thing. Kallen decided to show Sukai around the school, seeing as he'd only just started. However, as they entered the Student Council Room, she tripped on the edge of the door frame, causing her to fall forward, before Sukai caught her in his arms.
"You okay?" Sukai asked.
"Y-Yeah." Kallen replied, blushing at the contact, as they gazed into each other's eyes. Slowly, the gap between them narrowed, before their lips met in a passion-filled kiss. Both closed their eyes, Sukai's arms sliding around Kallen's slim waist, while Kallen put her hands on Sukai's jacket, pulling him closer to her. Suddenly, the door behind them opened, revealing Lelouch, Shirley, Rivalz, Suzaku, Nina and Milly, who were surprised to find Kallen and Leon (Sukai) making out in front of them.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?" Milly asked. Upon hearing her voice, Kallen and Leon (Sukai) let go of each other, Kallen blushing heavily while Leon (Sukai) rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Kallen?" Shirley exclaimed. Lelouch, Suzaku and Nina were speechless.
"I-It was nothing, I swear!" Kallen protested, while Milly got a devious look on her face.
"Why can't I find love like that?" Milly wondered. Lelouch and Rivalz gave her a look.
"Probably 'cause you scare off every boy that you go out with." Rivalz pointed out.
"Well, it's not my fault they don't have a spine. I guess I'm just unlucky." Milly sighed. Afterwards, Kaleen introduced Leon (Sukai) to the rest of the group, claiming he was an old friend. Lelouch found he got along with Leon (Sukai) well, seeing as he could sympathise with him. After school finished, Sukai offered to drive Kallen home.
"You've got your own car?" Kallen asked, surprised.
"Yeah, thanks to my father's money. And here it is." He replied, indicating a sleek, deep metallic red car that a crowd of students were taking pictures of.
"I-Is that...?" Kallen asked.
"'s a Lamborghini Reventón. It's got a 640bhp V12, and a top speed of 355kph." Sukai told her.
"Wow." Was all Kallen could get out. Sukai smiled, opening the passenger door for her. The girls in the crowd looked really jealous, while the boys just admired the car. Sukai climbed in, then started the car, which fired up with a roar, causing the guys in the crowd to cheer, before Sukai pulled out of his parking space, onto the main road. Once on the highway, Sukai put his foot down, causing the Italian supercar to shoot forward, roaring even louder.
"Um, aren't we going too fast?" Kallen asked.
"Don't worry about it. We're on a special part of the highway; there's no speed limit here." Sukai replied.
"Well then, go faster!" Kallen demanded, clearly excited.
"Ok, hold on." Sukai replied, shifting up a gear, the Reventón's speedo hitting 200mph. Kallen whooped, enjoying the small opportunity to just have fun. Sukai smiled, heading for Kallen's house.
After he had dropped Kallen off, Sukai raced back home. On the way he had realised a few improvements he could make to his Knightmare, which he had dubbed the Banzai Dasher, relatively easily. Once he had parked the car, he made his way into where he stored the Dasher. He had already repaired the damage Cornelia had done to the unit's arm and legs, and he had also repainted it. Now the areas that had previously been black were now a bright scarlet red, while the shields were now white, with a Japanese flag in the centre, the words 'Banzai Dasher' emblazoned beneath in black.
Sukai had realised that, aside from the missiles on each shoulder, the Banzai Dasher lacked any heavy weapons. So, he intended to replace the guns in the left shield with a more powerful weapon; the Tactical Laser System. The TLS fired a high-intensity laser beam at the target, and could cut through up to three metres of steel. The laser required a huge amount of energy to fire, so to avoid draining the energy filler with one shot, the TLS carried power cells, one per shot. Thanks to these, the TLS could be fired up to five times before running out of power. This would allow Sukai to engage heavily armoured targets, even at extreme ranges of up to 3km. Sukai had just finished the installation and programming, when Zero called.
"Sukai here." Sukai answered.
"Sukai, I need you to come with your Knightmare to Pier 10 in the Tokyo Harbour. We've received intel from a Brittanian civilian on Cornelia's move against the last of the JLF." Zero told him.
"Right, on my way." Sukai replied.
"Wait a second, Zero. I realise this is a request from Kyoto, I think we can definitely handle it. And I'm pretty sure the Japan Liberation Front would rather join us than flee to foreign soil and all but..." Ohgi protested, before Zero cut him off.
"You're the one who brought us this information, Diethard, wasn't it?" Zero said, addressing a man being held at gunpoint over by the door to the warehouse.
"That's right. It is an honour that you would meet me like this, Zero." Diethard replied.
"So Princess Cornelia is going to deploy the Royal Marines on General Katase of the Japan Liberation Front, is that correct?" Zero asked.
"Yes, the network is already poised to broadcast a special report on it." Diethard told him.
"Lieutenant Colonel Tohdoh will never make it to Katase in time, which means the Japan Liberation Front has no military strength right now. Their only chance for escape is the liquid sakuradite they're carrying." Zero said.
"Which is why we should help General Katase escape instead of going after Cornelia." Ohgi said.
"Ohgi! Who are we?" Zero asked him.
"W-We're the Black Knights, Zero." Ohgi replied.
"Then we have but one task! We will destroy Cornelia's troops, and in doing so, rescue the remnants of the JLF. Tonight, we regain what was lost to us at Narita!" Zero announced.
"What're our chances?" Ohgi inquired.
"Need you ask?" Zero replied.
"Understood." Ohgi replied, smiling.
"Begin preparations. You all have your orders to carry out." Zero told them, then he turned to walk away.
"Ah, Zero!" Kallen said.
"I have something to attend to. Whatever it is, save it for later. Sukai, you will be positioned near the Brittanian forces. In the event that I am in danger, you are to protect me at all costs." Zero announced.
"Right, I won't fail." Sukai replied.
A few hours later, the Black Knights watched as the Royal Marines' Portland Knightamres hit the water, heading for the JLF cargo ship.
"It looks like it's starting." Ohgi said into the radio. "Zero, you want to move out or what? Hey, do you read me? They're closing in on the JLF!." he said, looking over at the boat holding Zero, the Gurren Mk II and eight Black Knight Burai Knightmares.
"We have to hold." Zero replied, as the hatch on the boat slid closed. "Cornelia moved faster than expected. If we go now, we'll die along with therm."
Ohgi and the rest watched as the Brittanian Knightmares on the shore began firing on the JLF soldiers on the deck with micro rounds. Suddenly, the cargo ship began moving, attempting to escape. The Portlands fired their Slash Harkens, intent on boarding.
"The Knightmares are boarding the ship!" Ohgi exclaimed.
"I see. That leaves only one way out. They have to be careful around that precious sakuradite." Zero observed, as the scene before them continued.
"Zero! If we don't hurry..." Ohgi said, before Zero cut in.
"Very well then, go ahead." He replied, pressing the button on the remote in his hand, activating the mine he'd placed earlier. Suddenly, a pink blast of energy erupted from the cargo ship's hold, lifting the entire ship up before destroying it, causing an enormous gust of wind, flinging debris everywhere.
"Just what you'd expect of the JLF, choosing to take the Brittanians out with them" Zero said, while Ohgi watched in disbelief.
"Suicide? But they never mentioned..." he stammered, as Zero's boat launched, heading through the massive waves caused by the explosion.
"We're going to rush Cornelia's position head on! Forget about everything else! All that matters is achieving our goal! If you want to avenge the JLF, then capture Cornelia, and show them our strength and determination!" Zero announced, as the boat closed on Cornelia. The boat crashed through the dock, ploughing through the Sutherlands stationed near the water's edge. As the boat ground to a halt, the forward doors opened, revealing Kallen's Gurren Mk II and the Burais.
"Knock their Knightmares into the sea before the pilots can mount!" Zero ordered, jumping to the front of the boat next to Kallen. "Gurren Mk II, you're with me!"
"Yes sir." Kallen replied, racing after Zero. Before Cornelia's Gloucester could power up, Zero's Burai crashed into it, pushing Cornelia through the hangar wall, into the containers outside.
"I haven't even powered on!" Cornelia exclaimed, firing a Slash Harken, tearing off the right arm of Zero's Burai. "Do you think you can best me in Knightmare combat?" Cornelia raised her assault rifle, only to have it torn from her Gloucester's grasp by the Gurren Mk II's Slash Harken.
"That new model again?" Cornelia exclaimed, as Kallen entangled.
"I'll smash your hatch and drag you out. Cornelia!" Zero exclaimed, but before he could fire, he spotted the silhouette of a girl a short distance away. "Shirley?" As Zero hesitated, the Lancelot leaped into the fray, its foot connecting with the Burai's head, grinding it along the ground, before landing. The white Knightmare then proceeded to attack with a series of hard kicks.
'Zero!" Kallen cried out, moving to help him, before she was blocked by Cornelia.
"This is payback for Narita!" Cornelia shouted, as the Lancelot and Burai continued fighting behind her.
"Well, if it isn't the knight in shining armour!" Zero shouted sarcastically, as he broke away from the Lancelot. The Lancelot's fist slammed into the Burai's remaining forearm, tearing it off, as the Knightmare fell to its knees, its left leg tearing off at the knee.
"Why, why do you keep getting in my way?" Lelouch yelled.
"Why do you keep spilling people's blood without meaning?" Suzaku shouted.
"If it wasn't for you...!"
"Because of you...!" Suzaku yelled. Lelouch fired his Slash Harken past the Lancelot, pulling himself skyward. As he passed, the Lancelot's Slash Harken tore into it. The battered Burai slammed into the ground, sliding along as parts tore themselves off. The cockpit automatically ejected, Lelouch getting thrown around inside as it slid across the ground. The cockpit finally stopped, the hatch broken and hanging open. Lelouch slumped in his seat, unconscious.
"Zero. This is the end result." Suzaku said.
"Lancelot! Behind you!" Cornelia's warning came just in time, allowing Suzaku to black the Gurren Mk II's attack.
"Get the hell away from him!" Kallen shouted, as the two Knightmares moved away, fighting fiercely. As the area calmed down, Shirley approached Zero, not knowing that the Banzai Dasher was watching her closely.
"What's Shirley doing here? I hope I'm not forced to..." Sukai thought, ready to act as Shirley approached the unconscious Zero. Shirley stepped back slightly, gasping as she heard a metallic clink. Looking down, she saw Zero's pistol behind her foot.
"Is this Zero's?" Shirley asked, picking it up. " So, then with this..." she said, aiming the gun at Zero's head. "I'll repay you, for my father!" Suddenly, Zero grunted slightly, his mask falling from his face, still slightly hidden by a cloth mask underneath. Shirley gasped as she recognised Lelouch's face, as a small trickle of blood ran down it.
"Is that Zero?" asked Viletta as she approached Shirley. She walked over and lifted Lelouch's head, revealing his bloody face. "Well, well, what a shocker. The student is Zero himself! A Brittanian!" she exclaimed, laughing. But before she could say any more, the red TLS beam tore through her side, killing her instantly. Shirley screamed in terror as Viletta's body fell to ground in a pool of blood. Looking up, she saw the Banzai Dasher watching over her, its left arm extended, the TLS barrel glowing red hot.
"W-What?" Shirley gasped, as Sukai surveyed the scene. Looking over to his left, Sukai spotted C.C. approaching.
"Good, C.C. can take care of Lelouch. I need to make sure Shirley doesn't get away, even though she'll probably freak out." Sukai thought, as he reached down towards Shirley.
"No! Stay away from me!" she cried, as the Banzai Dasher's hand gently closed around her. Sukai forced himself to ignore her crying and screaming, as he sped away to the pre-determined rendezvous.
When Lelouch came to, he found himself inside the warehouse that they had planned to regroup at, his mask back on his face. He slowly stood up, noticing that the rest of the Black Knights, including Diethard and C.C. were also there.
"Zero! Glad to see you're still all right." Ohgi said.
"Ugh, what happened?" Lelouch asked.
"C.C. found you unconscious and brought you back here." Ohgi replied.
"Where's Sukai, he was meant to protect me?" Lelouch asked.
"There was the body of a Brittanian soldier where I found you. It looks like Sukai used his Knightmare's TLS to prevent them from killing you." C.C. told him. Just then, the Banzai Dasher entered the warehouse. Everyone, especially Lelouch, was startled to see a crying Shirley in its hand.
"Zero, this girl was where I found you unconscious. I managed to stop her before she could shoot you. However, she saw your face, so I couldn't let her leave." Sukai told him.
"Shirley?" Lelouch thought. "Very well, I need to speak with her alone then."
"Also, I saw your face as well. But I swear, I won't tell anyone." Sukai replied, climbing out of his cockpit. Once on the ground, he took hold of Shirley, who offered little resistance, and followed Zero into the Black Knights' mobile HQ. Once inside Lelouch's room, Sukai let go of Shirley, but kept his helmet on, preventing Shirley from seeing his face. Shirley quietly sat down, tears in her eyes. Lelouch sighed, before removing his mask.
"Shirley, I..." he started, before Shirley interrupted.
"Why did you kill my father?" Shirley screamed, tears running down her face. Lelouch sighed, his face growing sorrowful.
"Shirley, I never meant for any civilians to get hurt. I wish I could've done things differently. I'm...so sorry for your father. You have every right to hate me for it." Lelouch replied. Shirley calmed down slightly, then Sukai spoke up.
"Lelouch, maybe it'd help if she saw another friendly face." Sukai suggested. Lelouch realised what he meant and nodded. Sukai removed his helmet, showing his face.
"L-Leon?" Shirley gasped in disbelief.
"Actually, that's not quite true. My actual name is Sukai Furaia. I'm half-Brittanian and Japanese." Sukai explained. "Shirley, I understand how you feel. I lost both my parents four years ago in a terrorist attack. I know it hurts, but you shouldn't try to get revenge for it. If you do, it'll just get worse."
"Shirley." Lelouch said quietly.
"Lulu..." Shirley whispered.
"Shirley, I'm sorry about what I did. If I could take it all back, I would." He replied. Shirley started to tear up again, before throwing herself into Lelouch's arms, crying into his shirt. Lelouch put his arms around her, comforting her.
"I just wanted you to be kind to me. Even though my father died." She sobbed.
"It's all right Shirley, I won't leave you alone again." Lelouch told her. Shirley's crying subsided, as she looked up at Lelouch with hope. Sukai smiled, glad that the two had made up.
Afterwards, Shirley had asked to join the Black Knights, after Lelouch explained what his goals were. Although he protested, Lelouch was glad that Shirley had decided to join him. Now he had something else to fight for. Sukai offered to let Shirley use his Knightmare, once he had finished building another based on his father's designs. Lelouch agreed, knowing that the Banzai Dasher's strong armour would keep his girlfriend safe. Lelouch took Shirley home, while Sukai said goodbye to Kallen, who managed to steal another quick kiss before he left.
I had to watch the anime closely to get most of the dialogue right, but it paid off! I was feeling so emotional as I wrote this last scene with Lelouch, Shirley and Sukai, I love the ShirleyXLelouch pairing so much! The next chapter will feature Tohdoh's rescue, and and the Lancelot's capture! Read and review, people! Anzac-A1 out!