Edited version and fix on some mistakes. Let me know if u spot anymore.
18th November 2019
2315 Hours
New Pendragon, Imperial Palace
After discussing about where to station the new Black Knight units that came a few weeks ago, Kallen excused herself and went to bed. Clad in only a green T shirt and a pair of blue shorts, the Knight of Two lay down on the bed, eyes staring at the richly decorated ceiling.
Not for the first time since the Emperor's death, Kallen wished Lelouch was still here. She knew that the much more stabled world Kallen now lived in would not have been possible if he had not done what he had done, but she wished he had been still alive. It wasn't that the new Zero was not good for the world.
Suzaku was doing a great job as Zero and was a good leader in his own right but he was not the Zero she knew. Not the Zero she had served and admired. And definitely not the one she loved.
Lelouch Vi Britannia. The Black Prince of Britannia. The Knight of Justice. Her friend….almost lover. Certainly the attraction had been there on both sides and she knew that despite whatever Lelouch had done or had said they had both felt it. And had almost acted on it more than once.
Kallen had long ceased denying the feelings she had realised late in the war for him. It was never clear even to her as it was mixed between loyalty and duty. Duty to end Britannia's tyranny and loyalty to her commander. She had belatedly realised that those feelings hid what she had truly felt for the former prince.
And the very thought that she had once hated him and that she had fought trying to prevent him from saving her and the world was now a festering wound that would immediately bring tears to her eyes wherever she was. It hurts even more when she realised it after on that day and it took everything to keep herself from breaking down and cry like Nunnally did. She had only allowed herself to do it when she was finally alone in her bed that night. It felt like her heart was being ripped into pieces then crushed.
Before the Civil War while she attended Ashford, she had spent months mourning in silence and her acting skills clearly helped. The only people who realised it were Nunnally and Suzaku during their visit to Ashford. But as she thought of his sacrifice and how happy everyone was, Kallen's feelings for him had exploded again and she constantly wished that she could go back in time to change it. She wondered how things would have turned out if she had known the truth about Lelouch while they were still in Ashford...how it would have been if she had seen through his lies on the Ikaruga...or...if she had chosen his side instead. But then she realised that Lelouch had saved her from fighting her friends, her country and becoming an enemy of the world at the same time making her brother's dream come true. He did it so she, Nunnally and the others would be happy.
But despite everything, despite creating the gentler world Lelouch had sworn to create, despite the fact that he had kept humanity from destroying itself, he failed to give her one thing that Kallen would even risk her very soul for: his heart. If that idiot prince had thought she could move on with her life without him just like that he was wrong.
It wasn't that she did not have a choice in this matter. On the contrary, her feminine features attracted many men and she lost count how many of them had tried to win her heart including Gino. The Knight of Three was a flirt but despite that had many attractive features. He was a loyal knight and a soldier who stood up for justice. It was clear when he chose to join the Black Knights. Had she been anyone but Kallen Kouzuki, she would have gladly accepted him. No. Lelouch was irreplaceable. And even when she did feel lonely, Kallen knew her heart ached for Lelouch and Lelouch alone.
Kallen had been dreaming about Lelouch more and more ever since that battle in New England. Unlike that weird nightmare about cultists, these however were happy ones where she would find herself dancing with him, fighting under him against some unseen foe or simply resting in his arms. Or even kissing...but this one was different where they both would have it in this world...the world Lelouch died for...she thought bitterly.
Knowing that she wouldn't get any sleep now, Kallen went to the bathroom and washed her face. But the moment she looked in the mirror she could not help but see the familiar raven-haired prince behind her and realised that she missed not just his leadership but his company.
To make things simple, they had almost been lovers but the timing had never been right.
Kallen was suddenly angry. Angry at the Purist rebels. Angry at the men who flirted with her. Angry at Lelouch for abandoning her... so angry that she wanted to jump into hell just so she could punch his face.
But being angry was not going to do anything. Taking deep and slow breaths, Kallen calmed herself down before she breaks something. She remembered that conversation they had so long ago when Kallen was having her second thoughts on the cause after the Battle of Narita where many civilians were caught in the crossfire.
"Will there be sacrifice? Yes, not just soldiers but innocent bystanders as well. Even so..." He hesitated then firmly answered. "Because of that, I cannot stop. Even if I need to cheat or to hurt others, I must persevere. To that end, I must become carnage incarnate. I must spill more blood, so the blood already split will not be in vain."
It was also the day where she made her commitment that she would stand by his side on their road to bring a peaceful world. Kallen wished that she had known his true identity on that day and knew that if she had, she would have been willing to follow him to hell even as early as then.
It was also because of that reason, she had chosen to take up the sword again and become a Knight of the Round for Nunnally. For the sake of the sacrificed. For the sake of Lelouch's sacrifice.
Wearing just her Knight of the Round uniform without the mantle, Kallen went out of her room to her usual spot near the window edge where the Aries Villa laid.
"I thought you were sleeping?" Mellenia's voice injected behind her. Kallen turned to see the brunette walking up to her. The Knight of Nine was still in her full uniform with the violet mantle.
"Can't sleep." She replied simply. "Too much stress I guess."
Mellenia smirked. "Get used to it, girl. You're not just the Knight of Two but the of the Black Knight Expedition forces. I'd say you're crazy if you weren't stressed."
The former Black Knight ace shook her head. "I can't wait for Todoh to arrive and take over. It's not the fighting I'm tired about. It's the..."
"Paperwork?" Mellenia suggested.
Kallen nodded. "Paperwork."
The brown haired knight laughed. "Hahaha, Yeah. I hate it too. It's because of that I got my Guard Captain to do all of it every time we get back."
Kallen gave her a smile. "But then again, we haven't been going out much. I'm dying for some action. So are the other knights back? I saw Alleria a week ago in Pendragon."
"Well...James and Henderson, they just arrived back from Burma. That's it. Isaac was killed in Wellington and Decker is MIA. So only those two I guess." She said sombrely.
"I see." It was bad news indeed. With two Knights gone, that means two less guardians for Nunnally.
Mellenia nodded. "Yeah. Our forces are spread too thin. The rebels have us outnumbered and outgunned on too many battlefields. I mean numbers do not win a battle but you have to admit it certainly does help!"
Kallen nodded, remembering some of the battles she had fought under Lelouch back in the days of the rebellion.
***
2345 Hours
Imperial Palace
Camelot Keep, Observation Tower
Despite the near-destruction of the Capital early in the war and the grim situation in Britannia, the Royal Guard at the Keep's main entrance which over looked the glimmering capital was not very concerned and rightly so. There was little to fear from the direction as other than the city itself, the palace was guarded by three layered walls that were armed to the teeth with more than Knightmares. Along with laser nets, motion sensors, security cameras, the Knights and soldiers of the Imperial Guard patrol the area fervently in the form of both machine and man with the latest quantum gear to date. And even if the enemy should pass through both the city's and Palace's defences, it would take an army of thousands to storm the Keep which was guarded by Zero and the Knights of the Rounds along with their personal forces. But despite such knowledge, the soldiers were no less vigilant in their duty and stood alert through both camera and human eye for anything suspicious. They were not chosen to be part of the Guard without a good reason.
Thus it caused a great concern when one of their men's IFF signal suddenly blinked on the screen. At first, the lieutenant thought it was his eyes playing tricks on him but when he saw another soldier's IFF blinked and more and more, the officer realised that something was definitely wrong. But before he could do anything else, one of his men called him.
"My lord! We're receiving an incoming transmission from the 8th Guard." The officer checked the unit where the IFF signals were from and sighed in relief when they matched that of the unit.
"Patch it through."
A high ranking officer with the insigne of a Justicar, the Royal Guard version of a Colonel appeared in the screen straight in attention in full uniform including the plumed shako.
"My lord!" The lieutenant saluted. "Is everything alright? We got some reading that there's a disturbance in your area."
The figure nodded. "Yes. Lower your shields."
The lieutenant blinked. "Sir?"
"Lower the shields and close all communications."
The guardsmen stared at each other in confusion.
"What does he mean by that?" One of the Guardsmen whispered.
"He wants us to lower our defences?" His companion muttered in confusion.
"Maybe there is possible attack?" Another suggested.
"Lower the shields and close all communications." The Justicar repeated, the brim of his shako hid the officer's eyes.
The lieutenant in command stared at his men who gave him the same confused look.
"Oi! What is this all about lowering shields?" An approaching figure demanded as he entered the room. His uniform was more elaborated than the Lieutenant's and had a golden sword insigne of a captain on the right shoulder. "My lord! Was it you who issued the orders?" He quickly saluted.
"Lower the shields and close all communications." The Justicar repeated again.
"Are we risk of an attack, sir?"
There was a pause, then. "Yes. An attack."
"But we haven't received word from the front gates or Lord Guilford and our patrols haven't said a thing."
Another pause then. "Infiltration." The Justicar spoke in soft tones. "They pass our defences. Dangerous to allow them to hear. I need to come here personally and speak. Lower the shields and close all communications." The commander paused then added. "Ambush."
The Guard officer considered it then barked at his men. "You heard him. There's going to be an attack and we're going to trap them. Lower the shields and open the gates, Stefan. Do it. Commence Operation Night Guard." Sometimes in the military, there were times that the soldiers were forced to use simple words over the complex military codes especially in this time.
The Justicar watched silently as the Blaze Luminous Shields slowly disappeared and the blast doors opened wide, embracing any invading army.
"Anything else, sir?" He asked.
"Remain in your positions." And he walked off.
But as their defences were being reduced, the Guard captain silently thought of the commands given to him by the Justicar.
What was he thinking? Letting their guard down so openly. What if an enemy spy was listening to them? Or worse what if an assassin takes advantage of this? While the Guard officer was confident in the Capital's defences, it would be foolhardy to take risk it. It did not seem right to just open the doors and lower the shields without proper explanation. He said there were some invaders and they would ambush them but using this was a great risk. Something nagged at him as if he was doing something foolish but orders were orders.
Yet, he could feel in his stomach that something was definitely not right. The only reason why he obeyed such commands so readily was because of the respect he held for a Justicar, a notable rank second only to the Guard Commander. But the orders...it made no sense at all. He knew that it was a court martial offence to refuse a direct order and that those who reach such an impressive rank were not made up of fools. Besides what if there was an attack? He might be causing the death of the Empress.
But still, it was no way how to defend the Empress. Shouldn't they warn Zero and the Knights and tell them to take the Empress to safety first?
"Bah! To hell with orders, even from them! Lieutenant, close the doors! Reactivate the shields!" He shouted.
"But sir, the commander..."
"I'm taking responsibility here! You heard me! This is a matter of her Majesty's safety! No one is going to endanger that." The officer knew he might be signing the death sentence of his career but he did not care. He was a Royal Guard and his priority was the Empress' well being.
Now that he thought of it, the Guard Captain saw that they were allowing an enemy into the Empress's own resident. While in military terms it was a good plan to fool an enemy making him think how easy their job was going to be and then trap them, but they were risking the Empress's own life here..
And that was completely opposite of what the Royal Guard stands for!
His thoughts were interrupted as one of his men seated beside him jumped.
"You there, what's wrong with you?" The captain demanded, glad to let his anger out at something else.
"Sir..." Before he knew it, the officer's face was splattered with blood. Once he recovered, he found the soldier's head had disappeared in a mist of blood haze.
"What the hell-" The captain jerked his head to the entrance and found himself frozen. It was like watching a horror movie. Like a pack of startled bats, they appeared out of the darkness and sprang up before them like living shadows. The nearest guardsman raised his rifle and fired at the incoming invaders. The captain was just able to see the guardsman letting out a single round before the dark tide washed over him.
The attack broke the paralysis and the soldiers drew out their weapons and sent volleys of rounds into their invaders. But they were too quick and several were consumed by the dark tide before their weapons could even discharge. The Guard Captain emptied an entire clip into one figure who charged at it. Somehow, his adversary easily danced around the raining bullets as if he had the speed of an eagle. His training kicked in and the officer dodged an upcoming blow from what revealed to be a nasty looking dagger or short sword. He pushed one of the chairs towards him…or rather it and raised his pistol again. The room was filled with the sound of gunfire, the clash of steel and the screams of pain.
Just as he was about to squeeze the trigger, something metallic slashed at him taking his firearm away from him. Not letting his shock getting the better of him, the soldier jerked to the side as the cloaked figure thrust at him again. Again, he thanked his drill sergeants as the Guard officer's hand instinctually went to the gold hinted sabre at his hip and drew the sword in time to parry a second attack by his first adversary. Then with all his might, he lashed out a broad swing which forced his opponents back lest they be decapitated.
At the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of red and black struggling where the former was struck down. As he parried against two new fresh attacks, the captain heard his lieutenant scream as the younger officer's ribs were broken by a heavy blow on his torso.
Before long, the Guard officer found himself surrounded by the fallen bodies of his comrades and their dark slayers. He regarded them and their glowing red eyes fixed on him like a prey caught in a web and knew at once that once he raise only weapon against one, the others would fall upon him. But his eyes were not focused on them. Instead they were on a small crimson box that lay on the wall.
"Well, you can kill a whole team of sentries at ease. I can grant you that." He grinned at them. "But let's see you try the entire Guard." The captain's sword flew out towards the wall.
"Warning! Warning! Security breached! Code Red to all units!"
"Repeat. Code Red to all units! This is not a drill!"
Like a startled beast, the entire palace woke up. The compounds and corridors so empty and quiet before were now filled lights and the screeching sound of the alarm.
One of the hooded figures turned to the security monitors to see the situation. A grim smile crossed his hidden features.
"It's time."
As if signal to his words, a series of explosions burst around certain places of the Palace the thundering noises drowning the blaring alarm as well as the screams of the soldiers.
Lord Guilford, the guard commander in charge of the city's defences watched the scene in shock and surprise. How could they have gotten here through some of the most heavily guarded areas in the world? How could he allow it happen and endanger her majesty and his Princess' beloved sister?
With effort, the knight shook away the despair. It wasn't over yet. Whatever happens, he will make sure that the Empress lived. For the sake of Britannia!
"Get me, Captain Wilkins." Lord Guilford, spoke through his com-link watching the fire that was licking at the damaged buildings. "I need all Knightmare units out here now! We need to....They've blocked all hanger bays? Wha-" He was interrupted by a volley of rounds that suddenly rained down on his lieutenant and his twenty men strong unit on his right. The men danced in the gunfire, the iron spikes slicing through their flesh and bones spraying red hot blood on the luscious grass and the walls. The lieutenant's head was hanging by a bloody thread, almost decapitated. One soldier was almost torn into two by the torrent of fire.
A second volley followed but Guilford was prepared and twisted away, jumping to the side. He was pleased to see his men doing the same escaping it but several of the slower ones were caught in the horrific barrage.
The royal knight brought his pistol up and returned fire against their unseen attacks.
Then suddenly something dark dropped from the skies and a massive figure landed heavily on the ground. Two orange sized red orbs appeared in the darkness which revealed its horned head. Despite the lack of light, Guilford could see that it was a Knightmare Frame. The eyes opened up and its face opened up to reveal its factsphere. The Knightmare then suddenly turned around and fired with what Guilford presumed were automatic cannons its chest. The oversized rounds peppered the defence turrets, CCTV cameras and other automatic defences in its sight.
A second Knightmare landed behind the first one and sprayed spikes in its direction. And then a third and a fourth until there were about half a dozen of them in the courtyard. Together they formed a perimeter and laid waste at the defences in the area.
In a few seconds, a trio of Imperial Guard Vincents descended from the skies with rifles and lances at the ready.
Suddenly from the skies a large elevator size object fell down right between them before Guilford could even blink, it shot out a thick transparent green-blue wave. The royal knight instinctually raised a hand but other than making his long hair dance, it passed through them without effect. Or so he thought when he looked to the skies. The Vincents as the emerald wave touched them suddenly stopped in mid-air.
"What?" Cornelia's knight watched as the Imperial Guard Knightmares suddenly lose power and came down crashing on the courtyard. One of them crashed right into a tower setting the entire building aflame.
Guilford swore. They were using a Gefjun Disturber though a more potent version of it that even Seventh Generation Knightmares were affected by it. Which means the majority of their Knightmares would be render useless so they'll have to destroy it from the inside. The problem is that they had six Disturber resistant Knightmares guarding it with only infantrymen to assault it with. "You there contact all K.M.F patrols. Tell them we're under attack. Warn Kannon! They've come for the Empress. She needs to be protected at all cost!"
As the soldier nodded, another voice shouted in his ear. "Lord Guilford! This is Claudio! We're under attack from the south!"
"They planned this." The knight commander muttered angrily. Knowing that the situation was well out of his hands so he shouted to his men, "Hold them off! Protect the Empress at all cost!"
***
2355
Camelot Keep Interior
"We're under attack!" Nonette burst out of nowhere. Her face showed none of the joy and laughter Kallen had been used to seeing.
Both girls stared at the older woman in surprise. "What? By whom?"
"We haven't identified them yet. Guilford and the others are trying to hold them off. Zero is taking the Empress to safety! I'm going to help him out."
"Mellenia and I'll lend the Guard a hand." Kallen said. "We'll see what we can do to delay them!"
The three ran off in opposite directions.
"How could they get in here without alerting the entire city?" Mellenia asked as the two knights ran down the richly decorated passage.
"I don't know. But whoever they are, they're no fools!"
"Wait!" Mellenia halted in front of an old painting of an ancient English king. She pressed a few unseen buttons on the frame when the portrait opened up revealing a comm centre. The Knight of Nine pulled out the keyboard and started typing.
"What are you doing?" Kallen asked.
"Sending a message to all guard officers. If someone's smart enough to get in here without alerting the entire Imperial Guard, they'll be smart enough to hack into our communication net work. I'm using the old fashion way."
"Morse code?" The Japanese-Britannian girl asked. Kallen remembered that her fellow knight served in the Britannian military intelligence prior to her ascension to the Knights of the Round.
"Yup." She hit a toggle and pressed another button. But as she did everything on the screen suddenly disappeared in a black space along with all the lights in the entire passage. Only the moonlight and the explosions from outside kept the darkness from consuming them.
Kallen blinked. "Was that supposed to happen?"
"Uh...Nope. Looks like I was right. But I think I managed to send out the message though."
Then a growling sound suddenly echoed in the palace.
"What the hell was that?" said Kallen.
"The sound our unwanted guests entering. Come on!" The brunette continued the trek through the now barely visible corridor. They were passing the dining hall where Kallen had met Milly and Rivalz when they heard a long burst of rifle fire from the main entrance.
They slowed down at once and slammed flat against the wall. Slowly, Mellenia drew out her pistol careful not to make any noise. Kallen also drew out her own firearm. It was an old Japanese pistol she had used during the war and had served her well. Kallen hadn't used it for a long time since she spent most of her time in the cockpit of the Guren. And now that she was out in the open, she tends to use it again.
A bark of automatic weapon fire roared somewhere. Kallen heard booted footsteps and more shouts from the hallway on her right.
A scream of agony followed it as well as the sound of booted footsteps became louder.
Mellenia gave Kallen a look then nodded. The two slowly crept up to the entrance and Kallen pressed herself against the wall not to give her presence away.
Five of the grey coated Palace Guards joined them from one entrance, their rifled polearms at the ready. They crept up from the other side.
"We heard gunfire." The foremost of them said. "Our commander sent us to investigate."
"The Empress?" Kallen asked.
"Lord Zero and Lady Nonette are taking her to the refuge. But power's out. We're trying to get the backup generators up but something was wrong so we were sent out."
Mellenia lean back to look at the entrance again. "Must be by an EMP wave." Kallen thought she muttered before she continued. "There's obviously something over there and I'm not going to wait for it to take us so easily. Come on!"
Kallen took her safety off and nodded, following her fellow knight with the Palace Guards behind them. Another burst of rifle fire was heard. They quicken their pace, knowing that whoever infiltrated the Palace was no fool.
Upon taking a turn pass, a torrent of machine gun rounds sprayed above their heads forcing them back. The iron spikes shredded the wooden frame of a portrait on the wall, utterly ruining the priceless painting.
"Look alive!" a voice shouted.
"They're all over the place!" Another shouted.
An explosion rocked the floor though not enough to pull them off balance. Something heavy suddenly flew and slammed into the shredded portrait. It revealed to be one of the Palace Guards. He fell back and his head slumping against the wall. Kallen did not bother helping him up after glancing at his pupil-less eyes.
Kallen and her companions stormed through, their guns at the ready.
They were in the library. Though the lights were gone, the library's ceiling had been made transparent as a sign to show to conserve electricity during one of the Empress' policy to promote "Saving the Earth" campaign months ago so the moonlight had shined through clearing much of the darkness from their eye sight.
An ocean of books greeted her. Several shelves had fallen and countless tomes littered the massive room. It was like as if a tornado had struck the room.
Three soldiers of the Palace Guard and four Royal Guardsmen stood in the centre of the room surrounded by a makeshift barricade made up of tables. The redcoated soldiers fired several bursts of their automatic rifles at something while the Palace Guards were using their rifled polearms on the opposite side.
Mellenia and Kallen raced towards them as their continued their constant fire.
What happened here?" Mellenia demanded.
"They just came in, milady. Out of the darkness. As it had been the gates of hell." The man's face pale and covered with sweat and dirt.
"Who came out?" Kallen pressed.
"I'm not sure. Look like bloody damn ghosts if you ask me!"
Kallen was about to ask him to be specific when one of the soldiers shouted.
"There it is!" The Guardsman dragged a long burst at the corner, holding no regards for the books as the iron rounds ripped through the tomes that held countless knowledge. But there was nothing there.
"I saw it!" He insisted. "I saw it there!"
Mellenia snapped. "Saw what? I don't see anything."
No sooner than she said it, they heard a heavy thud. Everyone tensed and gripped their weapons tightly. There was dead silence. Kallen had visited the library several times before during in her, enjoying the tranquil silence. But the silence that sliced through the atmosphere now was far from tranquil.
Other than the constant breathing of Kallen's companions and the panting of these surviving men not a single sound rang through their ears. Which could mean two things to Kallen: one, whatever did this to the room had gone out...two, they...he...it was waiting for the moment where one of them would make a simple...careless mistake.
Something shifted on Kallen's left and she quickly trained her gun point there.
"Who's there?" She demanded, letting her voice project out.
Then Kallen heard something cutting through the air. The Black knight ace's head snapped to the direction in question her finger ready to press the trigger. The soldier she was speaking to had fallen to the ground, a thick bronze framed blade protruding in his left shoulder.
Dark figures leapt towards them in high speed, swamping on them. The soldiers returned fire on the raining shadows. As if they were a herd of bats, they scattered around the deadly volleys. Though some of the rounds disappeared in the darkness, Kallen didn't see any of them dropping.
Foremost of them dropped to the ground in a graceful land and bolted towards them. The five of Palace Guards charged at them with their pikes. They were best at close combat, trained in the old arts that were unknown to most people and intent to use it to the fullest.
Unfortunately this unknown enemy seemed to be just as trained as the intruder avoided the blows at practiced ease. The soldiers thrust, slashed and kicked but all attacks were swiftly encountered.
"Die!" The Palace Guard thrust his polearm, the crimson blade almost catching its target but the shadowy figure was fast and darted out of the way. The second Guard slashed forward in a broad swipe. The assassin smoothly parried the attack in a metallic ring, its dark cloak hiding any identity of its weapon.
It thrust out its hand in mid-air and brought it down in a slashing motion so fast that it looked like a flash of silver steel passing. The soldiers froze in their mid movements, stiffen then collapsed to the ground, a pool of blood flowing out of their severed necks.
By then Kallen had time to bring her gun up fired. The assassin banked to the right and when Kallen fired again the same thing happened. On the third shot, the shadowy figure lunged forward at her, its eyes flaring crimson. Kallen's eyes widen with visible shock and horror. It was a menacing sight but it was not the reason why she was so disturbed. It was because the eyes that flared crimson bore the symbol of Geass.
Her training kicked in and Kallen jerked to her right, avoiding the blow just inches from her face. At this range, Kallen finally saw this Geass user's weapon: a gauntlet with knife-long claws. Instinctually, her leg came around in a roundhouse kick. Just as it avoided the gun shots and the spear thrusts, her opponent dodged it in a blinding speed that made Kallen thought he had teleported. She brought her gun up and fired but it avoided the iron spike again and charge at her flank.
Kallen brought her elbow up to block the attack and backed away, realising how dangerous her foe was. Now she could finally see the man clearly. He wore a long cloak that covered most of his body which Kallen glanced was a deep-violet black form fitting suit. His face was masked by a hood with only his glowing eyes visible.
Despite the mask, Kallen could have sworn she saw a malicious grin forming on his lips...
Phew! That's over. The end of Arc I will be ending soon and I hope to be able to give it an epic ending even as I struggle with this new College life. And as usual read & review and please feel free to give any suggestions. I hope my writing style is ok with you guys. Let me know of any Here is small preview of the next chapter. Oh and as to the question on Lelouch, hehehe, you'll just have to keep reading to find out but as I said before, he's playing a major role here and yes at the end of this arc many of the unanswered questions will be answered and will raise new questions as well.
The helmet was sent flying and shattered against the wall.
Kallen could not believe her eyes. Every logical part of her told her that what she was seeing was completely unreal. A dream. A fantasy. Memories of the brief but mournful funeral appeared, years of fighting under the black banner, countless nights of despair, love-sickness and anger consumed her. It was wrong. It was impossible. It...
"It can't be..."
Yet, the blood soaked figure that stood before her in the shattered armour over a torn uniform with dents, cuts and bruises and wielding the long-bladed sword already crimsoned with an unblemished face. The same face that she had thought she would never see again. The same face that haunted her since that very day. The same one she knew should no longer exist.
"Defenders of Pendragon," He started, his rich voice projecting wide.
"I am Arthur Peregrine."
"Lelouch..."