Disclaimer: I own nothing of Code Geass, nor of Guilty Gear, nor to a lesser extent, BlazBlue and Rewrite. I do own this story, and all the inspirations along with it. And of course, the brain where the ideas came from.
"Tell me, Lelouch. Why have you decided thus? I don't mean to say that this or that is wrong. I am your silent observer, after all. I just don't like it when there's no meaning at all."
"Since you were so gracious as to give me this 'purpose', then perhaps I shall deign to answer you."
"...You're really enjoying your other self, aren't you."
"On that note, why haven't I seen your other self, witch? Have I not shown my true self to you? As a mutual exchange of trust...between partners. Or conspirators, if you see it that way."
"...Like you, I am bound to an illusion."
"An illusion? Then-"
"An illusion that no magic nor will on this Earth can break. Not even the most powerful Gear, if he were standing before me, could shatter it."
"Hm. Perhaps time shall tell. Many more rules have been broken in the past. You broke mine, when I knew there was nothing to break. Now then, you wish to know why I've embarked thus? Then listen well..."
01
The sky above Aries Villa was dark and dim with dry, grey clouds hanging overcast. Lelouch vi Britannia had half a mind to march straight down to the lower levels of Pendragon to remind the Palace maintenance team to speed up their repairs on the weather simulation system.
He hailed a passing transport platform, his thoughts taking an upswing when he decided that moment to visit-
-static-
Lelouch ascended through the halls of the pyramidal-shaped Palace, pausing to bow in princely grace to any noble who had been left to wait for their turn to be called to gain an audience the Throne. Lightning flashed through the windows, causing the Prince to quirk an eyebrow in exasperation, surely the maintenance team was overdoing it?
"Ah, if it isn't the raven-haired limpet," came a falsely-sweet, cultured voice, the insult oozing from the words causing the resolute Prince to veer back, staring at the fair-haired Clovis la Britannia, his older brother.
"What is it this time, brother?" abandoning all pretenses of noblesse oblige, causing the girls gathered around Clovis to shift uncomfortably, averting their eyes, "I've far more important things to see to than share insults with you. So for now, I bid you a good day, 'brother'."
"Boorish as usual, I see. I caught your attention only to tell you something." Clovis began to pick at the dust on the collar of his princely garb. "It's about something important, you see."
"If it was," Lelouch said, reigning in his temper for but an inch, "I would've been one of the first to know. As it is, I rather suspect this is another foolish trap of yours, to vindicate yourself after losing so many potentials to my group."
"That is a childish presumption, Lelouch, but I am gracious enough to let that be," Clovis replied, spreading his arms wide magnanimously. "But as it is, this is quite important do you know, and is something that I suspect even His Majesty knows nothing about."
"Father doesn't- What are you talking about, brother?" Lelouch asked, his eyes narrowing. Was there something afoot in the Palace among the heirs and heiresses again? He remembered being pulled into that ridiculous intrigue between two elder Princes last time, he'd strictly told each group that under no circumstances would he and Nunnally take a side, and that was that.
That might have earned him the ire of several half-siblings who were interested in the intrigue, as the notion that the sweet Nunnally, the "Angel Princess" among the family, would not be partaking of the schemes had set the others who had been on the fence to remain on it, including (to Lelouch's surprise) Clovis, who proclaimed that the general view of the scheme was not to his tastes, Cornelia, and the deal-breaker, the normally reticent Second Prince Schneizel, who silently admonished the two warring Princes to stop bringing shame on the Court. In the end, the two had apologized and invited all of the Emperor's sons and daughters to witness the resolution of their conflict through a duel of ars, and that, Lelouch had hoped, would've been the end of such foolish, harebrained conduct.
"Oh, I know it's troubling for you not to know, Lelouch, but bear with me," Clovis continued, his voice lowering in conspiratorial excitement. "I shall speak in tenebrous whispers, so as to preserve the surprise for later. For you see, later on today, there will be a certain massive announcement concerning a certain member of the Imperial Family. He/she will have their life refashioned, their circumstances changed for the better, and no doubt will affect those whom he/she are close to deeply. I wish I could say more, but I dare not slice a pie before it is baked!" Putting a finger almost delicately to his lips, Clovis turned back towards his gaggle of admirers, leaving behind a Lelouch with a disconcerted look in his face, staring in blank amusement at the flower that the other Prince had pressed into his hand.
Lelouch shook his head, dropping off the flower in the nearest grand bouquet as he headed for his next destination, hopefully without any needless conversations with pompous half-brothers. (or sisters)
-static-
02
"I thought nothing of it then, but the circumstances of that day... Afterwards, in the few days when I threw myself into the official investigation team, I'd recalled his words, hazarding a guess that they were not as insignificant as they seemed. There may have been something more to Clovis' usual flowery spiel that morning. But I could not get the chance to ask him more about it. Because then-"
"Is that why you're basing all this on that? You just want to talk to the Viceroy?"
"Yes. If possible, without needing to reveal my identity."
"Why can't you just go up there now? Reveal yourself to him, to the guards, here is the lost son of Britannia, all hail, all hail, excuse me brother, but I'm still rather bothered by something, why yes, I would like some tea, no, as I was saying, I have been quite struck by your words in the Palace long ago, before I came here, do you remember? Yes, that one, what did you mean by that-? And so on and so forth."
"I had considered that, but I know there is a lot more going on beneath the surface than I can gain data on. Could the illusion my Father placed on me have been placed on other people here as well? A scenario: maybe Clovis is here to monitor me, and is currently troubled by reports of my recent disappearances? It would be foolish to reveal my hand at this point. Not when I have a new power to achieve my end through less troublesome means."
"You could test your suspicions by asking the people you go to school with. Do they still have the illusion?"
"As I said, why should I reveal my hand at this point? There may be layers to this vile ars that even I can't comprehend. Say I inquire to the Ashford, letting it slip that I know my heritage. Perhaps she is an agent, or is the observer for an agent, and immediately after I am hauled off to the homeland, where my father can put the memory ars back on me again. And with the added bonus of discovering his son has become the Gear he so wanted."
"You can't know that, Lelouch. Don't torture yourself with that self-perception."
"On the contrary, witch! It is the most comforting one I have! I've let it be my illusion, to free my mind of the unnecessary, leaving the certainty to that moment when I shall stand again before the Throne."
"You are still a sad, callow child, Gear."
"However 'I' came to be, Lelouch vi Britannia is entrenched in the illusion that it may have once been for a purpose that only he could comprehend."
"So you have begun embrace that 'purpose', young Gear."
"Embrace...? What do you mean, witch?"
"-Nothing. I have an inquiry. I've lived for a long, long time in that cove, far longer than I could stomach, and only now have I started to think on the changes in this world. For example, Prince, during my time, the exalted Emperor may have as many consorts as he wished, but there was only one sanctioned Empress, and from their union is the sanctioned heir or heiress to the Throne. The others that inherited blood through but a consort can never claim it, until the true heirs are dead and the succession falls to ancient rites to determine which has the purest blood. Yet you claim yourself and your...half-siblings as equal claimants, am I wrong? Why has this come to pass?"
"I'm not surprised that you've never known. After all, it seems that this practice of having each of the sons and daughters that inherited the Royal bloodline become heirs and heiresses was only put into practice by the current Emperor, my father Charles."
"Why would he do that?"
"I've no wish to fathom the depths of that man's mind; perhaps we shall leave it at that. Not even his own consorts can, especially when it transpired that he asked the hand of and married a commoner, which as I've heard, was breaking a milennia-old rule regarding the marriage of consorts."
"A brave Emperor, to shirk 'ye olde tradicioun'! I would assume that this commoner Consort was your mother, and forgive me if I am wrong."
"...you..."
"Think nothing of it, I was but curious. As to how I guessed, your chafing lack of well-bred manners and behavior would only suggest so."
"My mother was as royal as any of them could ever be! She was strong, kind, graceful! All the things those spiteful harpies could only aspire to! She was so devoted to father that- I forget myself. It is all in the past, and all I must think now is the now and the moment after."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm setting up the conditions. You're free to watch, my good 'observer'. This is what your power has wrought. Watch well. This is what I am free to do!"
"Those symbols..."
03
The subjects didn't die too fast this time, but they still expired, within the 24.5 second time limit set on the ars. The activated seithr pulled at their bodies, reducing flesh to ash at the pace it took dry wood to burn, their dying screams unheard behind the sheet of magic-resistant glass through which the observer was watching. One of them had the willpower to move his body and scratch screaming at the wall, which coincidentally was where the glass was, making an unsightly mess. A pair of eyes watched the spectacle with clinical intensity, the bright, red light reflected harmlessly in the pits of his pupils.
The purpose of his ars fulfilled, Schneizel intensified the heat, causing flames to erupt on the errant corpse and after a flash was disintegrated into bare ash and tufts of seithr.
The Second Prince made a note of it on his datapad, shrugging out of his lab coat at the same time.
"12% increase in temperature leading to a 0.85% change. Perhaps I need to recalibrate the glyphs again," the golden-haired prince talked to no one in particular, being alone in the drab, grey-walled complex. He donned the resistance suit, and pushed past the quarantine door to the experiment area.
On the floor was a dull, green circular seal, surrounded by strange symbols and glyphs that no other man save its writer could understand. Schneizel paused once he entered the area, as if to pay respect to the latest subjects who had given their lives for science.
After extracting a murky brown crystal the size of a baseball from the center of the seals, the Prince left, leaving the suit in the quarantine area and exited the area with simple shirt and trousers. His bare feet padded over the entryway to his test area, climbing up the stairs to reach the resplendent hall of his Pendragon estate.
Waiting for him was his aide, Kanon, who instantly brought the Prince a coat to wear over his shoulders, as well as several other maids and guards. Schneizel nodded amiably to the men, saying, "Please clean up the usual. Thank you for your work." He turned to the maids. "Please attend me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Kanon, was there something I missed?" the Prince asked when he turned towards his quarters to change into his more proper Princely clothing. He had been down in his complex an estimated eight hours and nine minutes, long enough for a war to be declared and ended, at least outside the Sacred Preserves. His aide walked a little beside him, with the maids bringing up the rear.
"Yes, my prince. His Majesty has declared that the Imperial Court meet for an emergency session on the next morn. All overseas heirs and heiresses are to return to Pendragon by any available transport immediately."
"Emergency session?" asked Schneizel placidly. "Was that word used exactly? I do hope it's not another assignation of war-command. I had just given the Union our regards last week." The Prince appeared to think on it as he entered his personal quarters, Kanon excusing himself outside the door. Before the door could be closed, the Prince stopped and turned back to his aide.
"I completely missed it. Here," Schneizel gave Kanon the stone he had gotten from the complex. "Could you have it analyzed by a friendly mage at the Circle? Tell them the usual reason, though do refrain from invoking another of your 'black market finds'. I dislike to hear ill words against any working under me. Would you please, Kanon? I've had to explain things over with the Grand Duke Weldsman."
"Yes, my Prince."
The Prince made a barely noticeable smile. "I seem to be improving leaps and bounds, Kanon. I rather think Father would be proud of what I hope to accomplish."
"Your Highness, I am sure His Majesty is proud of you already." Kanon replied congenially, bowing. "If you'll excuse me."
"Very good, Kanon. You may go."
04
"Are you hoping to accomplish your end...with that?"
"What do you think, my observer? Is it not a grand display of ars?"
"A grand display? I fear, young Gear, that as even I can see clearly what you plan, that ars makes your means seem transparent, and ultimately pathetic."
"If you assume to think this is all I have to work with, then you are mistaken. I said this was but a condition. I have yet more to activate."
"And what are those? Some more fancy spell-work? You realize any concerted effort by a group can shatter even a Gear-crafted ars, dispelling your plan into slivers of oblivion?"
"You make a point I was already going to say for myself. It is true that my plan shall not wholly revolve on ars-work. That is why I shall also acquire the 'means' which shall accomplish physical ends, if your estimation of my powers is correct. And what better time than now to test it out?"
"Please don't make the mistake of overestimating yourself- Ah, he's gone. That guy...doesn't he even have the grace to wait for a lady? How utterly boorish of him."
05
The assembly watched as, on the screens before them, many video recordings of their newest apprentice was displayed.
Kururugi Suzaku, in the humble light blue garb of an apprentice (though he wasn't officially yet, for rules stipulated that he had to have acquired education in the basic ars), dispatching monsters, fighting Gears and generally moving about, charging straight into battle without hesitation.
On one side of the panel, the local Legion Masters were arrayed, with their own displays of the boy recorded during the preliminary training sessions with his self-appointed teacher, Kyoshiro Tohdoh. The man himself was one of the seated, unhelmed and gauntlets clasped in front of him.
He watched himself spar inside one of the Order's training rooms, recalling for himself the feelings and sensations of facing down one of his most trusted friend's sons.
"I may be remiss in repeating the line, but the kid has potential," remarked one of the Masters, dismissing the screen in front of him.
"His movements are unnatural, even for someone with Ki," said another, Chinese transfer.
"There are some flaws I can sense, but that can be mitigated with the proper training once he becomes a true apprentice," said yet another Knight, satisfied with the recruit for the moment.
"Flaws, yes... He does not have strengths in ars, but he makes up for it with raw tenacity and sheer strength," agreed the Knight on the seat across.
"He certainly seems to have dedication enough, and the will and mindset that the Order requires, making him a natural fit to be a new Brother – so why are we still talking around like this?" asked one of them, looking around at his brothers and sisters. "I seem to be getting the feeling there is some reluctance to allow this obviously willing youth to render his services to mankind."
"Concerns there are," replied a Master. "Have you not observed that stance? That look in his eyes, the way he attacks?" The Knight's screen bloomed to expand in the center of the assembly. In it, Suzaku had assumed his battle stance, bringing his dummy sword up perpendicular to his body and parallel to his face, the edge pointed at the opponent and his free hand raised palm up just below it.
It certainly struck some bells in the Masters, but none shifted more strongly than the Britannians. "He...must admire the Founder so much, to be mimicking him like that..."
"What do you think, eh?" joked one of the Britannians. "Is it the Founder reincarnated? Returned to the world after a two century rest, to torment the Homeland once more?"
Most of the other Knights in the room did not share his humor, and his smile quickly faltered under the intensity of some of the other Masters' faces.
Tohdoh, who had remained silent and watchful, replaying himself draw his dummy sword behind him, his free arm blocking Suzaku's forward attack ably before patting the boy's exposed side with the edge of the sword. The boy had slumped, acknowledging his loss, but did not remain disappointed for too long, instead dashing back to begin the attack anew.
"Suzaku Kururugi certainly has potential," he began, breaking the disconcerting silence in the room. "But, to answer your question, the Order's concern is that other groups are concerned about him as well. Kururugi has told me just now that he has been invited by the Britannians to have tea at their base...We must pause to reflect on this implication."
"Wouldn't it be better then, to have him at the Order to stave off such intrigue? Becoming a neutral presence would certainly assure everyone concerned that he would do no harm to any."
Tohdoh closed his eyes, brows making small fissures on his forehead. "If you pause to remember, our Honored Founder also claimed himself to be neutral – right before assassinating the Seventy-Ninth Emperor."
06
"What's the matter? I thought you'd have already been in wherever fool place you wanted to go, without me, and without any compunction whatsoever, like last time."
"This...is strange. C.C. Is this the biology of a Gear?
"What do you mean?"
"I noticed it just now. I was a fool not to see it while I was practicing my ars back then. Is this peculiarity mine, or does it belong to all Gears?"
"Once again, I still don't know what you're babbling on about."
"I'm talking about this, damn woman!"
"...that you're able to cast a fireball at a blazing speed? You're a Gear, after all."
"Seithr! I'm not using seithr! What preposterous, unnatural thing is this? I-I...See! I can't... even... draw on it...How am I even able to do this?"
"Ah, you're talking about 'that'. You'll have to excuse me, since that's been a long accepted part of myself that I never bother exploring. It's like asking someone how he was able to walk; it's just something one does. But I was certain that after all this time, they'd have figured out this most basic thing. Are you sure you didn't just miss the fact when you studied about Gears?"
"What are you babbling on about now, C.C.?"
"'That', my good Prince, is what differentiates the magic of a human and a Gear. Are you familiar with the Boundary? I know you must have encountered a similar sort of concept, perhaps in a different name: Akasha's Veil, the Backyard, the Unknowable Beyond, the Other Side, the Transcendent Dream, Sheol's Abyss..."
"The Other Side...I only know of what I read from the information of the yet to be approved magic, the forbidden ars. This feeling...I can use seithr now, but-"
"I don't find it unexpected to learn that it is still a hardly understood concept. Even in my time, it existed as nothing more but a fanciful theory, to test the minds of the ambitious. Regardless, in some sense, it does exist. To put it in a way that your young mind can understand: it is the background noise of the universe, the magical blueprint of the world."
"And what does this have to do with the Gears?"
"Simple. The physiology of a Gear's body is still a mystery to you now, yes? A lingering question must be of how a Gear is able to perform mysterious powers without drawing on seithr. Here then, is the answer. Just as the ancient magicians in the time before the Beast did so, so too do we Gears draw on the unfathomable power of the Other Side."
07
There were a lot of ways to categorize the members of the Ashford Student Council, and Nina knew each of them in her half-remembered solitary introspections, whenever she would pause to watch the usual everyday scene, like a picture of a stilled scene in a frame.
For instance, if one were to group them as theoretical bodies arbitrarily nicknamed by disgraced researchers, quack ars scientists and occultists whenever referring to elements of the Boundary (though Nina had only been reading to pass the time, never taking it seriously), then Milly would obviously be the "Source Code". The point where all things began and all things would inevitably end, reflecting how the vivacious president would ever be the instigator of many absurd, but grudgingly fun things, and at whose words said events would end, for it never would stop unless she tired of it.
Suzaku Kururugi would then be the "Essential Integer", the function that was the essential framework, the one side of the Boundary that helped define it, as well as support its "being". In that, Suzaku fulfilled the role, being the Secretary, responsible for being the primary aid and disseminator of Milly's events, and was also the only one able to persuade an ever-reluctant Shadowfrost Prince to accede to Milly's wishes. His enthusiasm for the events was surpassed only by Rivalz.
On that note, Rivalz was then obviously the "Focusing Iris", well, only to the extent that the "focusing" referred to him being the most enthusiastic of getting Milly's dictates done, showing the most delight in participating in events, and urging the rest of the council to do the same. The theoretical Iris was but the way through which the observer comprehends a trifling part of the Boundary, though to what degree she hadn't read further.
Shirley...well, she could be the "Unbroken Flow", the sea of consciousness that connected observer to the Code...Hmm, well this was getting harder to group. Perhaps because Shirley was ever unchanging, a bit relentless in her affection towards another member of the council? She'd only heard a little hint of it through scattered overheard conversations between Milly and the girl.
Now...Kallen would be the "Eye of the Gates", fulfilling that role as the newest member of the Council, rising quickly to a prominent position for some unknown reason. The Eye was necessary for entering the Boundary itself, it was claimed and the only clear way through which the observer could escape.
All the rest of the council were the Formless Essence, the sheer volume of incomprehensible potential that occupied the Integer, surrounding it, defining it while at the same time being defined. At the center of the chaotic force was the "Dissonant Harmony", the sheer irrationality and randomness that the Boundary supposedly possessed. Lelouch Lamperouge was obviously not one to give to lack of reason, but he was the driving force of chaos, nonetheless, being the only one who resisted and attempted to sabotage every one of Milly's schemes, despite being sometimes senseless themselves. His efforts failed in many, sometimes spectacular ways, but that did not stop the youth from trying everytime.
As for herself? Well that was a puzzle to figure out later. For now, she was part of the Formless Essence, her voice and face lost in the multitude of people Milly had brought together over time. And she was content to be just that.
"Nina, if you don't hurry up, you'll miss saying goodbye to Suzaku!"
"I already did, Milly...yesterday. And the day before that. And the day before too."
"Well, you know you've got to do it again. You know I can't let Suzaku leave without having everyone here."
"Suzaku, oh my Suzaku, will you return safe and sound to us? Oh, our hearts are troubled so!"
08
"Are you sure you're ready for this? Shouldn't you probably wait to test it on some newly awakened Gear? Maybe you can calm it down just in time for it to be hewed in twain."
"This is a good chance, C.C. There're a whole bunch of them gathered right there, ripe for the plucking. If my calculations are false, which I know they aren't, then a quick escape is elementary."
"Now do you believe me when I said there were underground, free-willed Gears?"
"I never gave an indication I did not, my dear observer. I just had no reason to believe everything that came out of your lips just yet."
"..I'll be waiting right here then."
"You won't come and see?"
"Your impudence turned me off. Go on and wet your pants, milkboy. I'll be waiting. Just remember your time limit."
"For a pot complaining about my manner of speaking, you sure have some nerve calling this kettle black. But...I thank you for the concern. I'm aware of my own limits. I can assure you that nothing shall ever happen."
09
Her new "masters" – well "their" group's new masters - waited at the bottom of the torn hill, a portable resistance bubble placed over them all by their mages. Ohgi, de facto leader of the burgeoned group because of his experience dealing with Gaia took the lead, hailing the other representative.
Kallen watched through the eyes of her new, fiery-red form as the robed and coated mages shook hands and glanced warily at the gathered throng of Gears. A few of them were whispering amongst themselves, pointing here and there to each of them, and she could swear that at least one of those fingers had been directed at her. Their representative beckoned Ohgi close towards the inner bubble, bending his masked face to whisper something.
She could feel the reluctance oozing off of her family, something which she knew as part of instinct. The others seemed to have sensed it too, shifting uneasily on the seithr-ravaged sand.
Ohgi walked back, consulting with the initial secret group who'd recruited her, then turned to call her over, urging her to listen close.
"You should say no, Ohgi! Ain't the answer so damn obvious?" hissed Tamaki.
"What's going on?" Kallen asked when she came over.
"They told Leader to allow them to shackle a few of our brethren to take them back to headquarters," replied one of the group. Kallen blinked uneasily.
"This is why I wanted to ask you guys first... I can't just let folks go, who knows how the others might react? And they put their trust in me..." Kallen knew that part wasn't true, to an extent. A few of the others who'd just joined hadn't gravitated to them because they wanted to join Gaia, on that, she was sure of it, having sensed their intentions herself. "And I can't just say no to them, we pledged ourselves to Gaia after all..."
"Your answer, Mr- Ah... Gear Ohgi?" called the high, hollow voice of the representative.
"No, er.. could you give me some more time?" replied Ohgi, stamping his feet on the ground in distress.
"Well don't keep us waiting for too long, the Federation patrol we bribed can't keep delaying for much longer. If you still have worries, please, we won't do anything to hurt them. We just need some specimens for data collection. That is all."
"Specimen collection...?"
"Ohgi-san, that could mean a lot of things..." Kallen stated loudly, narrowing her eyes at the mages. "We should ask them to outline how exactly they're going to be using the some of us
"Who is this impatient Gear, Ohgi? She looks so strong and healthy. Don't worry, lass, I promise that we won't hurt you," said the representative.
"You're taking me? Like hell I'll do that, you strange creep!" rumbled Kallen's voice in a louder tone. A few of the cool-headed Gears started muttering amongst themselves.
"Gear, don't you understand? In order to facilitate a better tomorrow for this wretched and unfair world, we need some who are willing to give a part of themselves to to be the means to our glorious end. You pledged yourself to Gaia didn't you?"
"Yeah, but as equals, not to be specimens!" proclaimed Kallen, her cheeks flushed in vigor.
The man seemed to sigh, a burst of steam coming through his mask. Kallen didn't know if that was exasperation, or laughter that had been checked just in time.
"Equals... you must realize, Gear, that in this world, equality is only something humans can speak and dream of. You vowed to serve Gaia, but you may only be soldiers or specimens."
"You-" Even Ohgi was glaring in suspicion at the man now, clenching his stone fists, offended. "Please take back your words, they are unbecoming of the group-!"
"Oi! You want a piece of this, motherfucker?" Tamaki hissed, drawing himself to attack.
"Tamaki, stand down!" Ohgi shouted, nodding furiously for Kallen and the others to restrain him. Tamaki wasn't the only one to start threatening to attack, their signatures bleeding from them and sheer, hot rage roaring in their veins.
"It's too bad, Charlton. Looks like we will have to use that binding ars after all." muttered the representative, running back to within the vicinity of the bubble. "Now, you will see the folly of your actions. We could've been able to resolve this peacefully, but it appears you are nothing but brutes with not an ounce of rational thought. Davis, begin-" He was never able to finish his sentence as, at that exact moment, one of their number had fired a concussive blast at him, boring a head-sized hole straight through the man's chest. The man's head toppled freely to the ground as the other mages began to weave an ars.
"For the Master!" several of the brethren roared, and Kallen looked around in bewilderment as they sprinted forward disregarding Ohgi's insistent command, heedless of the many ars that ripped into their bodies. They easily pierced through the bubble, shattering it into base seithr.
Ten men trained in ars could not overcome one Gear without loss. Only a hundred Knights could face down five Gears. And the Gaia mages weren't Knights, not in the least.
"Oh shit," Ohgi said, looking down at the bits and pieces of mage that littered the ground. "How the hell am I going to explain this to the higher ups? I know that representative was a bastard, but we should not have killed them."
It would look pretty bad on them, Kallen agreed, reinforcing the view that they were uncontrollable, base creatures. She bit her lower lip, wishing she had a solution at hand.
("Obey".)
"The answer is simple, leader." The gathered Gears looked around, surprised by the deep, mesmerizing words that sent tingles into their bodies. "Tell them, 'But we have a new master now'."
("Obey".)
Kallen cringed, trying to push back the unknown sensation ("Obey".) that was pushing at her body from all sides, ("Obey".) an unseen pressure that seemed to throttle even her awakened Gear senses. ("Obey".) Then she saw that the rest were also experiencing the same, scratching their throats or bashing their heads at the aftermath of that voice's words.
("Obey".)
Her last glimpse of consciousness was seeing herself drive her fiery-red fist into the ground, sending sparks of fire running through cracks that immediately formed. Words not her own fell from her willing lips, in a language she could not understand, in tones so sickeningly servile that it made her want to gag, before she finally surrendered to the intensity of the pressure on her head.
"What is thy will, Master?"
"I shall show the world what it means to be Gear. And you shall be my cat's paws, the instruments of my will. From now, until the end, I will be your new master, -"
10
"What are you working on now? Playing a 'net game?"
"It would not suffice, C.C., that only the armies of this Area will learn of the destruction I shall cause. I am crafting a means to let the message soar through the seithr tormented sky."
"You wish to become a simple terrorist then? Broadcasting your demands for the world to see?"
"If we go by its basic definition, then yes, I shall be but a 'simple' terrorist. I will strike such terror into their minds and hearts that they will have no choice but to avert their eyes, turning their backs to protect what is dear to them."
"And what do you hope to gain from their fear, Mr. Terrorist?"
"A cleared condition, Miss Pepperoni. Why didn't you at least leave me a slice?"
"I thought you were working towards your grand plan, Prince. I didn't think pizza was a condition to clear."
"...When things are calmed, I will have some things to discuss with you, observer. After all, this power, this 'purpose' is a godly thing. It seems to be too good of a gift."
"Godly? If you look at it that way."
"It is a potent power, without any weakness or limit at all! I've taken over several other groups since the first, and there have been no repercussions or odd turns of behavior. They are as malleable and pliant in my hand as clay."
"So you are having reservations? You can simply free them."
"Such an existence should not exist. It's almost like I am-"
-crash-
11
"My Exalted One, Kurotaki's band has failed to report in. We can safely assume that the Gears have gone loose."
The dark-clad man sat with head uncovered and neck bared, his knees bent in reverence as he bowed at the unseen form that sat behind a curtain of emerald silk. He was in the most sacred rooms that belonged to glorious Gaia in Japan, the dimly-lit quarters of the Holy Woman of the Far East. His brow sweated ingloriously onto the polished wooden floor.
"We must not be quick to jump to conclusions," said a smooth, dreamy voice from beyond the veil. There was a sound of clanking porcelain. "The old ones' auguries have never failed. From those Gears shall emerge a powerful, unknown force that will "break or brake" the world. Gaia is fascinated in such an unprecedented foreseeing and they- I look forward to what shall transpire."
"Yes, you are indeed wise, my lady. You have never been proven wrong before, forgive my presumption."
"I only speak what the old ones have me say, my loyal servant. I thank you for your service and your faith. Inform me of the situation of those Gears. This time, perhaps we may send a more soothing voice to bring them close," the lady replied demurely.
"Yes, it will be done!"
After the man had excused himself, the Holy Woman was left in the darkness, the few torches of flame having been willingly extinguished by herself. Alone, she stared in enchantment at the piece of broken tea cup that had shattered during her servant's report.
"An ill omen, but what does it mean, my lords? Arrogant Kurotaki hath failed, but there are no other news. No Gear can ever reach its potential without coming to Gaia. What is the world wishing?"
And with those questions the lady sat and pondered, like an tiny, immovable ornamental statue, eyes shimmering in the dark room that seemed more of a shadowy crypt than a sacred temple. Maybe the other unseen things in the darkness answered her, or maybe they did not.
12
"Is this destiny? Reincarnation? Such a disturbing...but wait, could this mean he intended it thus? That this should have been my purpose?"
"Lelouch, I'm not saying you're wrong or right, but you shouldn't let even your own illusions take such deep roots into you. Trivial thoughts like these are mere wool-gathering."
"How can you dismiss it so, damn witch! I...I..."
"Yes, yes, you're a Command Gear, much in the same way as Justice. You could never hope to exceed him in this state, though. Not when you're like this. Now would you please get your filthy hands away from my clothes?"
"B-but this-"
"Are you afraid of the world's fear crashing down on you in retributive waves, then, young Gear? Do not worry. Three centuries is long enough, for even the legendary relics like Justice to be obsolete. If you do not become more than he was, then you will be struck down."
"To control any Gear's actions without penalty or compunction... this is no godly gift. It is demon's work. Damn him, damn him to hell!"
"Just so you know, you can never turn back now. Not when you've given me your answer. You can never turn back to just being Lelouch Lamperouge, or Lelouch the Prince again. You have already grasped the opportunity before you, grimly and wihtout pause, taking the power that it offered. Whether you become the second coming of Justice or remain but a miniscule fly on the world's surface is up to you – but remember the answer you vowed.
"Don't disappoint me, Lelouch."
AN: Oh this was a doozy to finally wrap up. The astute reader can recognize which canon characters have been introduced.
Thanks for reading!
Merlin Out.