Code Geass: The Demon and the Dragon
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. If I did, then what you see below would be the show, instead of a fanfiction on the Internet.
Stage 16: Back to Business
- The Dragon -
"Urgh....." Learme groaned, as for the first time in a week, the nano-oscillators sent a high-pitched vibration through his ear, waking him. It most certainly did not help his pounding headache. Since the incident with Suzaku, Lelouch had made good on his promise to withhold Learme's coffee, and the lack of his 'medicinal' drink was telling.
He'd been unable to go for more than two hours without falling randomly asleep, and the lack of his much-needed caffeine had given him a terrible headache. Of course, this had made him irritable and had nearly cost Shirley her life when the orange-haired girl had burst into their wing, fearing the worst for Lelouch.
Now though, Learme was going to get his coffee back, and the Black Knights were going to start operating for real.
It almost made him forget his headache.
Hmmmm.....what was I going to do first today? Oh yeah!
After popping a pill for the headache, Learme got up from his bed and navigated past the piles of junk to his computer. As the supposed head of a international black market, Learme had the pass codes and addresses of several rather illicit websites - websites devoted to the sale of black market goods, as well as being the source of many of the mercenaries jobs.
Learme posted a single job: The acquisition of any and all information on Britannia's A.S.E.E.C unit.
- The Shifter -
Ian had been monitoring several underground websites, all decidedly illegal according to international law. He skimmed through several of them, occasionally studying some job offers, when he came across one about a certain Britannian experimental unit. As usual, the name of the one hiring was not stated, and the meeting place was to be determined after the mercenary acquired the information.
Ian smirked as he clicked Accept, and typed in his alias.
- The Black Knights -
Back at their temporary base/command cell, the former revolutionary members of the Black Knights walked with a new step, paramilitary with a hint of pride. They'd been run through an artificial hell multiple times, and endured the scathing comments of Antonio and the ruthless training of Mischa, but it was all worth it. They had gotten the go-ahead from the two mercenaries! An actual compliment (if rather harsh) from Mischa and a commendation for operations from that freaky little Italian bastard.
Although a slight blemish on their collective record was the infiltration of that spy. The guards who were assigned to that shift were embarrassed at, not only having been unable to stop him, had been totally unable to detect him. Neither Mischa nor Antonio, the self-assigned interrogators, were able to get anything out of him than the obvious lie that Zero had hired him.
Then, they heard the sound of an engine, approaching from the part of the tunnel that they had left unblocked. With speed that showed practice and skill, several of them rushed for make-shift watch posts where Type-31 Anti-Knightmare Launchers laid, next to ammo racks of HE rockets, ready to be used at a moments notice. Kiryu, with his knowledge of weak points in Knightmares and his skill in using high explosive weaponry, had the forward-most post, and hefted his Type-31 onto his shoulder, placing his eye into the targeting computer sight.
The Type-31 utilized a miniature camera with a built-in laser target designator to lock the homing rocket onto a targeted location. A slight flaw of this process was the fact that the rocketeer had to keep the sight on his target, but it was effective nonetheless.
After half a minute, the vehicle making the noise showed up. It was Draco's iconic transport truck, almost filling the entire tunnel wall-to-wall. Still, the guards kept their launchers trained on the vehicle, waiting for the signal. Just before they decided it was an impostor vehicle and prepared to fire, the truck's horn blared out a long, two short, and then another long honk, and the guards relaxed, relieved.
Their leaders were back.
- The Demon and The Dragon -
Lelouch hopped out of the cab while Learme shut the engine down, while also disabling some of the more dangerous security measures the truck had. Learme was itching for some action, and Lelouch had a few schemes to put into action.
However, their first duty would be informing the Black Knights of their immediate plans.
"Black Knights, FORM UP!" Came the uncanny drill instructor imitation from Mischa, with Tony hanging close with a wicked grin splayed on his face. The Knights neatly formed up in ten squad formations of thirty, newly reinforced, before their leaders, standing at attention. After a few moments, Learme stepped forward, walking up and down the line of Knights in front. Centered in the middle were the teams that had passed through the training with flying colors, or so Mischa and Tony had told him. The teams included the ones with Kiryu, Qilin, Ouka, and Eris. Also included were some newer recruits, Akito Yamamoto and Sasaki Kojiro, a twenty-year old German/Japanese marksman and a middle-aged Japanese martial artist and swordsman, respectively.
Under his helmet, behind Learme, Lelouch frowned as he scanned the formation.
"Mischa, where is that mercenary I hired?" He noted how the Russian stiffened slightly.
"Ah....well......" Mischa hesitated.
"You thought he was a spy and imprisoned him didn't you?" Learme said, amused.
"He attacked me!" Tony retorted, somewhat outraged, somewhat amused.
"I don't suppose you guys were in a training exercise, were you?" Lelouch queried, scathing tone only partially filtered by his modulator.
"Erm....yes." Mischa replied.
If it weren't for their helmets, both twins would have face-palmed.
- The Assistant -
On this, one of her few days off, Cecile Croomy was doing her shopping, looking for more ingredients for some of her recipes. Strangely enough, when Suzaku got back from school a week before, he hadn't reacted to them at all. Said something about coffee messing with his sense of taste.
She was looking for peanut butter when she bumped into a clerk, falling down on her backside.
"Ouch!" She said, rubbing her bottom. Then a hand entered her view, and she looked up to see the clerk she'd bumped into.
"I'm terribly sorry," He said apologetically, as Cecile took his hand.
"It's alright, it was-" She tripped, falling into the clerk who caught her, barely managing to keep his own balance. As she tried to steady herself, she glanced into his eyes, and she thought she saw a flash of red. Rather uncomfortable, she pushed herself away only to feel something wet squirt onto her. Looking down, she saw that the clerk's pen had squirted onto her clothes.
"Ah....I'm terribly sorry." He said, bowing several times before running off.
- The Dragon -
In his office on the HQ truck, Learme was meeting with Mischa and Tony, to discuss the Black Knight's immediate plans. His office was styled after his room, only operating room clean, with weapons and Knightmare designs decorating the walls, and a stereotypical office desk in the middle with a swivel chair behind it and three leather chairs in front. Mischa and Tony took the seats farthest from each other.
"I've drawn up a Table of Organization and Equipment." He started. "While we're well off in terms of equipment and supplies, but as compared to the amount of force the local Britannian military can bring to bear, we're awfully short-handed."
"I presume that is why you had us train the Black Knights." Mischa said.
"Indeed. For the operations Zero has planned to take place in the immediate future, this level of training is sufficient. What concerns me is the future, when we're taking the fight straight to the Britanninans."
"What's the difference between now and the future? Aren't we still fighting the Britannians?" Tony butted in.
"Britannians, yes. The military, no. The next operation takes place in two days, and to be honest, it's more of a public relations mission to secure more recruits. We're going after Refrain." Learme explained.
"The drug?" Mischa asked.
"Yeah. It's basically a police operation." Learme said, disgruntled. Apparently disgruntled enough that it showed in his heavily modulated voice.
"You don't think this is an important operation?" Mischa asked tentatively.
"I concede that, strategically, it's important, but I prefer paramilitary missions myself. I feel better." Learme said, leaning his head back. The two mercenaries glanced at each other. "Anyway, there's another matter."
"Yes?"
"Yeah?"
"I want you two to pick out the six best trainees you've had in the past week. We're forming a special squadron, to counter the Mabinogions." Learme explained. He saw the light in Tony's eyes, and Mischa's curious expression. "In the field, it'll carry out the high-risk missions and protect Zero during field operations."
"And what are you going to call this Squadron?" Tony asked, leaning forward.
"Zero Squadron." Learme answered. "Simple, straightforward, and it indicates that the squadron is above average with the fact that it has the Black Knight's leader's name in it."
"True. Generally though, there are twelve members in a Knightmare Squadron." Mischa said. "Who are the other six members?"
"One is currently being transferred between Britannian penitentiaries. The rest are here. Kallen-"
"Of course." Mischa interrupted. "Miss Kozuki's piloting skills are exemplary."
"Alex," Mischa's thoughtful expression turned sour. "You two," Tony's face split in a wide, horrific grin. "And myself."
- The Demon -
Lelouch, meanwhile, was holding a planning meeting in the main area of the HQ truck, briefing the leaders on his next plans. He stood by the wall-sized plasma screen, with Ohgi, Tamaki, and some of the other leaders of the former groups. On the screen at the moment was a map of what looked like a port facility.
"This is the layout of a harbor I had Draco scout out in the past week. Every week, a shipment comes in from South America, unloads its shipment, and departs." He switched the image to one of a wooden crate stamped with a shipping company emblem. "These crates are packed with coffee grinds....and Refrain." He continued, putting up a picture of a warehouse. "The shipments are stored within this warehouse before being distributed to its dealers, who then go and sell it. Occasionally, the people at the warehouse also sell Refrain."
"Erm....Zero?" Ohgi asked tenatively.
"Yes Ohgi?"
"Not that I'm complaining, but.....why are we going after drug dealers instead of the military?" He asked, looking slightly confused.
"To speak bluntly, we quite simply don't have the numbers or the training to go toe-to-toe with the entire Britannian military. At most, we've had success with them at less-than-battalion strength, and accomplished it through guerrilla warfare. This is a public relations operation, and we'll get more recruits." Everyone was nodding at the end of his explanation.
- The Assistant -
A Few Hours Later
Cecil had just arrived at home, now wearing civilian clothes, when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Cecile answered
"Hello Cecile, its Euphie" said a cheerful voice.
"PRINCESS EUPHEMIAH" She said with great shock
"Shhh I don't want anyone to know I'm calling" Euphie said
Cecil quickly calmed "Sorry my apologies princs- I mean Euphie, ah what can I do for you" she stuttered
"Can you meet me tomorrow morning I'd like to talk to you about Suzaku and how he's doing at school."
"It's not problem, but can't you ask him yourself?"
"He been so busy lately that I haven't found the chance so I decided to ask one of his close friends."
"Well I wouldn't say that we're close friends...."
"I think you know each other well enough. So then can you make it."
"Sure I'll come, I'll have to take off work but it shouldn't be a problem."
"Great. See you at 8 in the morning, bye" she said
Cecile crumbled to her knees at the shock having a member of the Imperial family call her so informally.
- The Shifter -
'Euphie" shut 'her' cell phone, 'she' was currently residing an a hotel room wearing male clothing.
"Well that's one down" 'she' said as she dialed into her phone again. As 'she' did, the seal of Geass appeared in 'her' eyes and 'her' form began to shift, 'her' hair began to grow shorter until it touched 'her' neck, at the same time it turn from pink to a black color
Now in Cecile's form, Shifter waited for the phone to pick up
"Hello?"
"Hello, Princess Euphemiah this is Cecile Croomy, I'm a co-worker of Suzaku."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Croomy. How can I help you?"
"Well there is something important I'd like to talk about Suzaku having to do with school."
"Is he being treated badly?" Euphie said with a concerned voice.
"Well I really can't say over the phone. Meet me tomorrow at eight A.M and we'll talk some more"
"OK, I'll be there." She said as she hung up.
'Cecile' closed her phone.
"Now then, I believe I have work tomorrow" she said with a sly smirk as she looked the uniform hanging in her room that had just gotten back from the dry cleaners.
- The Demon and The Dragon -
The Next Day
The twins were meeting in Lelouch's office, just as they did over a week ago for the Kawaguchi Hotel-Jacking.
"How are we for tomorrow's operation?" Lelouch asked, at the moment hacking into the computers of several of the Refrain pushers, an actually rather easy job.
"They've been formed up into their teams and assigned their equipment. Live ammo, grenades; both stun and frag, real Type-10 O-yoroi armor."
"Are you ever going to tell them about that?"
"That the armor they were wearing in training was designed to shock them whenever they got hit by a bullet? Nope. Anyway, each team knows its place. Two teams covering the outskirts of the docks with Type-22 Sniper Rifles, and a back-up assault platoon in case the first one encounters some trouble."
"And the insurance?"
"Kallen knows where she's supposed to be."
"Good. By the way......."
"Yes?"
"Your information request got accepted. He wants to meet at midnight."
"Already?"
"Send Mischa."
- The Shifter -
'Cecile' approached the mobile base own by the research unit. She walked to the door retinal scanner, allowing it to quickly scan her eyes, then she placed her hand on the palm scanner, and the green light came saying access granted.
Cecile walked into the hanger eyeballing the Lancelot and the Bors, smirking at seeing the impressive Knightmare Frames.
She walk up to her private computer terminal and sat down, and began typing away at the computer. It asked for a password which Cecile type in easily. She then pulled out a disk and put it inside the computer, and began downloading all files related to the Lancelot, Bors and all of Cecile's personal inventions as well. After it was done downloading, she ejected the disk and slipped it back an her pocket.
As she started to leave,
"Cecile what are you doing here so early?" Asked Lloyd, who just appeared behind her.
"Just picking some work to take home." she said "And I'm taking the day off, so if you excuse me Lloyd."
"But you said you'd help me finish the repairs on the Lancelot and the Bors."
Cecile thought about it
"Well, I did want try some new recipes"
Sweat drops appeared behind Lloyd head
"On second thought I'll you take the day off" He said not want to try another of her ridiculous recipes
"OK" she said turning away, she gave quick sigh. How does she put up with that man eveyday she thought exiting the trailer.
Midnight
Mischa waited for the mysteries Shifter to show up for the meeting. He'd had heard many rumor about this man or woman no one really knew what Shifter's gender was.
Word was that he accomplished all missions without a single death unless it involved assassination, in which case only the target was one to die.
Of course, such rumors were practically the bread-and-butter of mercenary advertisement. The people who employed such personnel were unlikely to hire someone on the world police hit-list.
"Are you Mischa?" Asked a modulated voice from out of nowhere.
Mischa look around for voice "Yes" he said "and am I correct assuming your are Shifter?"
"Correct" the air shimmer as a Knightmare appeared in front of Mischa. The Frame in question appeared to be a Knightpolice Frame, but he never heard them having cloaking devices. For one thing, no one had actually managed to develop anything of the sort.
The cockpit opened up, and a person wearing pilot suit and what appeared to be a metal mask that covered the whole head.
The man approached Mischa until he was about a meter away from him "Do you have the money?"
"Yes." Mischa said, holding up the briefcase "Do you have the information my employer requested?"
"Right here." Shifter replied, holding up the disk. Mischa took the disk and pulled out a laptop, placing the disk inside. After looking over the data he transmitted it to Draco.
"It seems everything is an order." he said, giving the other mercenary the briefcase.
"A pleasure doing business with you." Shifter started walking towards his Knightmare, grabbing the line and entering the cockpit. A second after the hatch closed, the frame disappeared again, although this time Mischa noticed a slight shimmer, and some incongruities in the space that the frame had occupied.
- The Author -
Very bad week for me. Illness and internet problems all over. It's one thing when you have to sit down before walking makes you cough up your lungs. It's another thing when the medication puts you to sleep for four to five hours. And then the router broke down.
I don't remember breaking a mirror, or walking under a ladder. I suppose a black cat could have crossed my path, but I don't really go outside on the weekends.
Alex Yamato: I'm sure Learme has made Tony apologize. Or not.
There were no Brits involved. Chinese vs. Locals.
I think the Geneva Conventions forbid that....although its debatable as to whether or not they exist in the Geass-verse.
Jaksio: Perfection is boring. And narcoleptics are funny to watch, speaking in terms of anime.
Kojiro Kun: First off, who's Assassin?
They probably wouldn't agree with you on the extreme part.
Please, don't make me imagine that horror......
You want to give a drinker of this stuff guns?
Quite true.
Infinite Freedom: yep.
Haavu: I think that was Velshard's intention, yes.
It's relative. She acts like how I imagine one would.
Le Arme. The Weapon, in french. Le Louch, The Suspicious, also in french. See what I did?
G. Wagers: This filler is killing me I say.
Velshard: Well, it wouldn't do for him to gut/blast the trainees. As the chapter says, misunderstanding of unfortunate nature.
Sounds cool.
Which means Tony really has no style.
Television displays it in a humorous way.
So true.
xTincampi: Think wiry, more like a sprinter than a brawler.
00virtuezero: Nothing we'd want to touch, that's for sure.
again, probably Velshard's point.
I'm bad with remembering to do stuff like that.
Wait, what? Kiryu got shot by Mischa.
By the way, did you get my PM? I got yours on your new GS OC. nice profile, but he'll probably just take Abaddon's place in the Destiny remake, instead of being a big bad villain.