Rescue Angels

Wanda: The poll is closed with 79% for our newest addition; thank you all for voting! Oh, all the fun things I plan to do with this...

Euphemia: (picking up a binder from the table) 'The Geass King'...? Is this that eldtrich tome you were talking about-?

Wanda: (yelps) (pulls it out of Euphy's hands) Yeah! It's very important and very scary, so you're not to read it okay! I don't think your sweet sensitive mind could handle it.

Euphemia: (indigently) I'm not weak!

Wanda: (laughs nervously) I know. That's not the problem. (under my breath) I think even Mao would be afraid of that happening to him.

Eupehmia: (eyes me suspiciously) What happening?

Wanda: NOTHING!

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.

Chapter 14: On the Road to China

"...So that's what that was about. Suzaku asked for paperwork from the travels office, and I hadn't had the chance to ask why. I'm guessing Lelouch is the culprit?"

Euphemia leaned against the large window of her ornate room, watching the sunset casting bloody red streaks across the sky. She was pressing the black phone against her ear, speaking quietly with her fellow angel. Despite the time difference between Britannia and China, her companion wasn't tired – she was alert, and sad.

"...He's trying to protect you," Euphemia said softly.

"I hope so. But it happened right after I said..." Shirley's voice cracked. "I...maybe it's silly. But it hurts. Does he not trust me?"

"If he didn't, he would have erased your memories of him," Euphemia pointed out. "And the last time he did that, it was also to keep you safe." She shook her head. "But I understand, Shirley. Just let it all out. Where did he send you, specifically?"

"The lower rings of the castle complex. Apparently we have a referral thanks to dad's scientific record."

"It might be just as well that Lelouch sent you there," Euphemia said, trying to be a bit brisk and move Shirley's attention elsewhere. "Schniezel will be here in an hour, probably less, and we know he's in communication with the Eunuch Generals. I have a feeling that he's going to send me to play diplomat with the Empress Tianzi while he takes direct control of Japan."

"That sounds about right, coming from him," Shirley noted with an aggravated sigh. It seemed that whenever they made progress, another dangerous roadblock reared its ugly head. "It looks and sounds reasonable, but there's a buried catch. Good lord, where there's banality there is evil. Do you think he's building Damocles even as we speak?"

"I don't know," Euphemia admitted. "He doesn't have Nina's help at the moment – I'm keeping an eye on her, and she's still working away with Lloyd and Miss Cecile. She seems content, and happy, so I'm not really worried...yet, anyway. But that doesn't mean he won't go about it a different way. Knowing Schniezel, he'll search for another source of destruction."

"We have to do something about him..." Shirley worried. "But how are we going to do that?"

"We'd have to catch him by surprise." Euphemia responded. "He's about as brilliant and ruthless as Lelouch. I don't think any trap we come up with on our own would be something he'd fall for."

"You're probably right...but we can't do nothing..."

"I know. I just have to think on it...!" Euphemia bit her lip. "A sudden and tremendous change of pace on a battlefield might give us an opening...but taking advantage of it, that's the real problem..."

"You'll be informing Lulu about his decisions now, right?"

"I'll tell him everything I can without giving myself away," Euphemia answered.

She frowned slightly when she recalled her brother's words... You can't let him suspect you even a little, or you'll be captured...Schniezel is different from Cornelia. He won't be blind to any odd behaviour out of affection. You can't count on that; you'll have to fool him by playing the diplomat or devil's advocate...and even then, that's no guarantee you'll be safe. "I can tell Lelouch is worried I'll get caught."

"We can't deny we've been pretty lucky up to this point." Shirley noted. Though her friend couldn't see it, she pressed a hand against her scarred shoulder. "First time I did something big with an audience, at Narita, I was suspected almost instantly...it's probably thanks to Mao that I wasn't discovered..." Euphemia all but heard her friend wince. "There's something I never thought I'd say..."

"Well, he wasn't always just an unhinged, damaged weapon...he's as much a victim of the Geass as either of us..." Euphemia placed a hand against her chest – where there was a faded scar from the old, fatal bullet wound.

"All the same...We might run out of luck soon..."

Euphemia glanced over at the window, seeing her wings in the reflection. "I'm not sure it's all luck," she said, half to herself. The words 'minor miracles have always been in the hands of angels' echoed through her ears. "But now that things are heating up, more caution is the right way to go. We need to be more stealthy now."

"I'll find us some cardboard boxes," Shirley quipped. Both girls chuckled, feeling a little stress leave them at the camaraderie of the gesture. "But seriously, I understand. I'll keep my guard up, especially when Xinge is nearby."

"The sooner he's connected to Lelouch and the Black Knights, the better. He makes a dangerous enemy." Euphemia remarked. "Is there any way for you to get close to Tianzi? You are living in the palace complex now."

"I...am not sure. I've gotten a job as a lounge singer to help dad and mom while we're settling in. So I suppose if she came down to the first floor for some reason, I might be able to meet her. But I don't know of the Eunuchs will allow her to spend any real time with a commoner."

Euphemia snorted slightly. "As if you're a bigger threat to her than they are," She muttered. That pack of hateful, self preserving rats were on the short list of people she genuinely despised – right below VV, her father and Luciano Bradley. "My brother will be here shortly. Get some sleep, okay Shirley?"

"Yeah. Good night, Euphy." The princess clicked the phone off and slipped it into her pocket. She returned to the television she had been watching and relaxed against the sofa, her mind drifting off to the Elevator where she had been given her life back.

Suzaku...oh Suzaku, what would you say if you knew I was going to die in the not too distant future? Euphy thought, squeezing her eyes shut. Most of her nights were spent wrapped up in this thought. She had tried to start a conversation where she might tell him about it, but she always lost her nerve. He would take time just to walk or sit with her, enjoying her company – without Cornelia looming over his shoulder with silent threats, he did so more often than their last life. Euphy was well aware many people at court were whispering that Suzaku had seduced her. Often it was assumed that was the reason she knighted him, of all the absurd nonsense...then and now, she had chosen him because he was a good man. Her love for him was a secondary factor.

She had already left him once...that had ended poorly for many people...Euphemia could control the circumstances of her death a bit better, thanks to the Grace, but she couldn't not use it...and using it meant eventual death. A Grace was not meant for a mortal human.

But if she was going to look academically at her death...she might as well consider the circumstances... to that end, Euphemia had forced herself to dream about both the SAZ massacre, and the Zero Requiem. You're very well loved, sister...pools and reception at public events had proven she was the only princess loved in the various Areas...that was the reason Lelouch was thinking of her as Britannia's next Empress...

What if instead of hatred...what fuelled her own Zero Requiem was love?

Euphemia imagined herself, for a moment, in Lelouch's place on that fateful day. Murdered by V.V., perhaps, for interfering with Operation Ragnarok. All she'd have to do was let him know that she knew, and he'd come after her...especially if she hinted she knew about him killing Lady Marianne. He would come and kill her, while she oversaw a special administrative zone – no, while she gave her blessing for Japan's resurrection as a Nation, one connected to Britannia merely as a trading partner. The Emperor and those below him would never stand for that. It would be best if it was V.V. – it would bring the little bastard out of hiding so Shirley could smite him.

Though she might have to go straight there, to the Elevator, before my power fades, Euphemia noted, revising her plan. Such a task requires the extent of both our powers. I'll plot this out after Schneziel is sent to his grave...that will place me in executive power over a good chunk of Britannia. Then, my death will have the most impact.

Euphemia pulled out a notepad and started drafting her dream bill – with some differences from last time, but the same general sentiment. She silently tossed around a few more details for her death in her mind. I'll have my event heavily televised, so the whole empire can see it...but VV can't know that, or he may not bite. Hidden cameras, then...the event will reveal me as an Angel, if the Grace activates in response.

The angel who wanted only peace. Died for her people. It certainly makes for a ringing headline, and it would all be true rather than propaganda.

Deithard would probably kill to be the one organizing my memorial.

She let out a sad chuckle, looking down at her hands. She saw them as stained with Japanese blood, under the red haze of Geass. Listen to me, sorting out the finer details of my martyr's death. I should be worrying about Suzaku...I don't want him to see me die again...

...I wanted to live a life with him...

Euphemia roughly brushed her tears away. The door swung open and admitted one of the servants. "My lady, your brother, Prince Schneziel will be arriving shortly."

"I see." Euphemia said quietly, placing down her notebook and standing up. "Please, take me to the landing zone so I may meet with him."

~Line Break~

The young angel was very grateful she had practised looking neutral. Schneziel walked down from his plane and strode over to meet her, his face a calm and kind looking mask. What is wrong with my family...I shouldn't be afraid of him, and what he'd do, but I am. Oh Father, look what you've made us into. In another world, Schneziel and Lelouch could have been an unbeatable sibling team, ruling the world with a just and careful hand. But no, you wanted to create Ragnarok.

The thought rankled Euphemia, even now, that Charles and Marianne were still confusing their selfish decision to forcibly merge all the souls in existence with a selfless act. Under the best circumstances, it would transform them all into a horrifying Legion-esque entity that the angelic host would probably put down out of pity more than anything else.

"Euphemia," Schneziel said with customary warmness, kissing her hand. His sister forced a smile in response. "You look exhausted. I take it you haven't succeeded in negotiating Cornelia's release?"

"Is it that obvious?" Euphemia shook her head slightly. "I've only been able to raise the Black Knights once. Zero allowed me to see her, but the footage was entirely inside some sort of rail car so there aren't any hints to where he's holding her."

"Did he make any demands of you?"

"More like a question," Euphemia said, recalling what Lelouch had crafted for her, after they spent some time speaking and debating over the phone what would be worth releasing Cornelia for. "He said he believed I valued life. He then said that if there were to be a special administrative zone within Japan. There, everyone would live equally."

Schneziel's brow raised. "He didn't ask you to release Japan entirely?"

Euphemia snorted. "He probably knew the Lords, and Father, would never allow that – not in return for a single woman. Even a princess."

"Hmm." She could see the gears turning in Schneziel's mind; looking for ways to turn this around. "Walk with me, Euphy?"

"Of course..." The two siblings headed down the hallways, leaving behind two of the Knights in the hanger – including Bradley. Schneziel had seen a visible look of discomfort in Euphy's eyes when the Knight met her on the tarmac, and as such pulled him back a bit.

"I don't wish to trouble you," Schneziel said. "but I've discovered something alarming as I've looked into the various Areas."

"It can't be helped," Euphemia responded with some firmness. "This is my empire. I have a duty to my people as their Princess. What's happening out there?"

Schneziel nodded approvingly before continuing, "Zero's influence has stretched beyond Area 11. I've seen men dressed as Black Knights in almost every captured territory, following his capture of Cornelia. People are gravitating towards him."

"He captured me once," Euphemia recalled. "I was in a concussed haze for most of the trip, but I remember hearing him speak. He's a powerful orator, and a charismatic man. Mixing that with his theatrics, and I can't say I'm surprised he's inspiring people." She bit her lip, playing up fear and uncertainty. "We're really loosing control of this, aren't we? To think he started out controlling small terrorist groups. Father's going to be furious...if he isn't already."

Schneziel let out a grim-sounding noise and nodded. "Euphy, what do you know about Code R?"

Euphemia looked sharply at her older brother. "That thing Clovis was looking into, before he was killed?" She asked carefully.

"Yes. I haven't dug up all the details yet, but I have a feeling Code R and Zero's miraculous ability to turn hopeless battles around may be related."

"What could be capable of that?" Do you know?!

"I'm not sure yet. I am looking for this information right under Father's nose, after all." Schneziel paused. "You've done a good job keeping the people here happy and calm, Euphemia. But I have a new job for you, if you think you're up to it."

"What is it?"

"I've entered a dialogue with the Chinese Federation." Schneziel explained. "Their current Empress is a very young lady – the Tianzi. I intend to send you to meet her within the month, to foster a new relationship between our Empires."

"I understand." I expected as much. "What about my duties here?"

"I will handle them while you're away." Euphemia fought the urge to grimace. "Sir Guilford will remain here with me, since obviously Kururugi will be accompanying you to the Federation – I hope that's acceptable?"

"Of course. Will you contact me if negotiations for my sister's release change any?"

"Have no fear. I'll see to Cornelia's comfort as best I can."

**~Elsewhere~**

**~Shirley's POV~**

Shirley stared into the blinding light in front of her. She could faintly hear sword's clashing, and could see the outline of someone outstretched as though crucified, holding onto chains and keeping the doors behind them closed. She could hear music in the distance, warm, comforting and beautiful. She saw the stairway to heaven, the jump off to purgatory, and the distant, threatening flickers of hellfire.

"Looking ahead?"

The Voice was both gentle and somewhat amused; like a father watching his young child sitting too close to the television. Shirley looked all around her, but as usual, there seemed to be no one there but herself.

"I'm sorry," She whispered. "It's...it's because I'm afraid."

A comforting warmth enveloped her. "I am with you every step you take. I have a present for you, when you wake up. It has great capabilities...I imagine it will assist your travels well."

Shirley's eyes fluttered open, slowly focusing on the fan idly turning above her head. Her 'new'/current room was rather disorganized still, since she had only moved in two days ago and was still adjusting to the change in scenery and time zone. However, there was something lying against her leg that most empathetically hadn't been there before.

It looked like a fox and was about the size of one (though maybe a bit bigger), but with heavy fluffy white fur. The little creature yawned, and snowflakes flew out of its nose when it sneezed. It fixed massive, icy blue eyes on her, full of immediate, adoring love. Shirley let out a slight eep!, gaping at it – silently warring between what the hell is that/it's so ADORABLE!.

Shirley was a young woman. It wasn't hard to see which side won out.

The little white fox wuffed as Shirley lifted it up and hugged it gently against her chest. Her eyes glowed gold slightly as she learned and discovered this creature's abilities. "Moon...Blast? A fairy?" Shirley wondered aloud, before finding herself grinning. "Outside context abilities..."

She gave the Vulpix a light kiss on the forehead and declared, "I'm going to call you Luna." Her smile widened a bit. "And you are going to help me make a special friend."

End Chapter

Yup. Tianzi will be brought out of her tower in search of pretty foxes! Because who doesn't want a pretty white fox that can flash freeze all your enemies into submission and beat up dragons? (smiles coyly) This is where stuff is going to get messy for everyone. Buckle in!

Read and Review please!