"People who call you friends often turn their back on you." David Harris
Zero laid in his bed and Ciel slept in the one directly across from him. Zero was relaxing as he was pondering the events that had happened.
"Alright. Let's understand this. I get attacked by Bass again, he has new duds that look similar to me when I was in the resistance, Lelouch erased Shirley's memories, and now we have this Mao to worry about. "
Zero grabbed his pistol and turned the safety on as he spun it around in his hand.
"First he involved her parents…then he got us involved…then the JLF got killed…now he got with her normally. We also earned another enemy. Its bad enough we have the Britannian military, Sigma, Mega Man X, a Reploid group in Britannia involved in our capture. Now we have a guy who can read minds up to 500 meters."
Zero's mind focused back on when he, Lelouch, and C.C. we're in the train car. Ciel at the time was asleep so she did not see Lelouch's face.
"The first thing I want to confirm is if you're my enemy or ally?" Lelouch asked.
"What brings this up?" C.C. asked.
"Perhaps that man who had a Geass." Zero said. "Why do you ask the most obvious questions?"
"Well." C.C. said, ignoring Zero. "The manifestation of Geass varies according to the individual. Mao can read minds up to 500 meters, but its more than just surface thoughts. If he concentrates, he can even penetrate through someone's mind and read their memories as well. For someone like you who fights with his mind, he is your worst possible enemy."
"500 meters." Lelouch said.
"This is bad." Zero said. "There's no telling what this guy could do. Our men won't be safe. We don't even know what he's after yet."
"Did you make a contract with him?" Lelouch asked.
"11 years ago."
"So he's my predecessor?" Lelouch said.
"Mao's target is me." C.C. said. "He may be your enemy, but he's not out to kill you."
" I see." Lelouch said.
"A regular enemy would have revealed your identity." Zero said. "We should consider ourselves lucky. But that doesn't mean we can write this off as nothing."
"Any disadvantages?" Lelouch asked.
"Well…I suppose the fact that he can't turn it off. He is constantly hearing the thoughts and minds of others around him."C.C. said.
It took a little bit of pondering for how terrible that must be in Zero's mind.
"Shit…can't imagine that. Thank god I can just tune things out. Guess that's the advantage of Reploids over humanity. Still, that might explain how he recruited Dynamo to his side. Of course, Dynamo may not even have memories that this Mao can use to his advantage. I guess that Mao found what he wanted and offered that. Zenny, pounds, maybe female Reploids."
Zero rolled to his side as he watched the moonlight glow.
"If Lelouch wants this guy dead, I don't see why he doesn't send me or Axl to do it…especially Axl. Then again, Dynamo looked like he was waiting for me. Maybe he can read our thoughts too. I mean…the concept of us thinking works the same. Human thoughts are merely electrically charged pulses moving from the nerves from the spine to the cortex. Ours is simply electronic signals that transmit the binary codes of what we're thinking into context."
Zero began to close his eyes as he set his gun down.
"Hatred…enemies…death…it all stems from Lelouch. Maybe this road wasn't the best one to walk…wait…who am I kidding? I choose the road of a rebel a long time ago. The road I choose is something that I can't turn back from; for there's nothing for me where it began. If I went back now, I would not receive mercy. If I am going to be executed, I am going to take as many of these Britannian sons of bitches as I can. Lelouch…hear this…I will find out what your true plan is. You can't hide the fact any longer that you have your own goal in the Zero business."
Zero reopened his eyes for a second. He looked at his hand for a second. Zero watched as his hand created the red glowing claws that he acquired mysteriously.
"Something is not right with these claws. I've used them only against Bass…and I felt completely different. Their…tempting…like the claws themselves have their own malicious will."
XXXXXXXXXX
Zero slept for the rest of the night. He went early to Lelouch's house. Lelouch sent him a text message asking Zero to set up a security system. Zero and Lelouch began to set up cameras. He continued to thank god that Nunally could not see…although he noticed that she made up for her lack of sight with increased strength of her other senses. He almost got caught twice because Nunally thought she heard breathing.
We should really have had Phantom do this…
While they we're working, Lelouch went over to him.
"I must thank you for trying to help me yesterday." Lelouch said. "You made a very quick escape."
"I'm just doing my job." Zero said.
"But I must ask if there's something you are hiding from me?" Lelouch asked.
Lelouch pulled out the USB and gave it to Zero. Zero looked at the USB for a second. He then inserted the small hard drive into the back of his neck.
OS has detected new hardware. Installing device….
Device installed.
Open.
H:\Lulu
Zerodata,bat
RUN.
Zero was instantly played back by the message that was displayed by Lelouch when he had the helmet. Zero was shocked when he heard everything, but made no reaction from it. Zero took the hardrive out after he installed a piece of the data to his own hardrive for later study.
"Well?" Lelouch asked.
"I don't know." Zero said. "There are pieces of my data that is locked down…most likely by the scientist who designed me."
"What about the users?" Lelouch asked. "They have direct access to your system."
"That may be." Zero said. "But it doesn't look like they have fully cracked my system. Although they are already more than half way there."
"Can than Hi-jack you?" Zero asked.
"Not sure." Zero said. "We Reploids do have a separate drive built into us that acts as our own free will. If they attempted to…I could fight back. You can basically call that drive our will. Besides…it looks like they only have access on the data network…not the hardrive in the brain."
"That still means that there is someone out there that can control you." Lelouch said. "I have enough trouble as it is. I need to know if your own my side."
"Your last name is Britannia." Zero said. "That's the last name of the royal family. Can I trust you?"
Lelouch looked at Zero when he said that.
"Lelouch…" Zero asked. "Are you somewhat related to the royal family?"
Lelouch remained silent as he strung another camera on the wire.
"You know…" Zero said. "If you're hiding something, I won't tell anybody. I'm a soldier and a friend, not a snitch."
"People who call you a friend often turn their back on you." Lelouch said.
Zero sighed.
"Figures you wouldn't tell me." Zero said. "Still…we have our secrets…and the reasons we keep them."
It took them a half hour, thanks to Zero's speed and precision. After that, Zero went off to classes. Lelouch stayed behind to watch the residence.
XXXXXXXXXX
If Mao can read my mind, he'll catch me at my weakest moment.
While Lelouch and Nunally sat at their table drinking tea, Lelouch continued to check each one of the camera to make sure each and every one was working properly. Nunally finished her tea and looked in the general direction where she believed Lelouch was.
"We haven't sat down like this in awhile." Nunally said.
"Starting today," Lelouch began. "I will be staying her for a bit. Even Sayoko needs a day off once in awhile."
"You've been out of the house a lot lately." Nunally said. "Have you found some sort of interesting game to play?"
"Yes." Lelouch said. "And my opponent is really tough."
Nunally laughed.
"You have never said anything like that about someone for a long time." Nunally said. "The last time you said that was about big brother Schneizel."
Lelouch stayed silent.
That reminds me…Zero is still onto my identity. He's smart. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this charade up.
XXXXXXXXXX
Cerveau checked through the binary of Zero's data for at least three hours before he finally gave up. He deactivated the machine and took Zero out of it. Zero woke up and then looked at Cerveau.
"Well?" He asked.
"Sorry Zero." Cerveau said.
"We've been looking through the data for hours." Douglas said. "But we can't find anyway to backtrack those intruders on your data net."
"I see." Zero said.
"This is bad." Cerveau said. "What if it's a Britannian that has access to Zero's hardrive?"
"Look pal." Douglas said. "If I can't crack Zero's data…no one can."
"I doubt it." Cerveau said. "Didn't you say someone got close once?"
"Yeah but he ended up becoming a Maverick." Douglas said. "That's why no one ever gets close. They always become Mavericks."
"Re..really?" Cerveau said. "I did not know that."
"Yeah." Douglas said while Zero went to a corner and proceeded to rest himself on the side of a wall. "Come to think of it…that's happened more than once. Anyway it doesn't matter…we got to figure out who these users Omega and W are."
"Omega's my real name." Zero said.
Cerveau and Douglas looked at Zero in confusion.
"The original body was named Omega…Zero is simply the code name given to me when I was created." Zero said in one whole sentence.
"Really?" Douglas said. "When did you find this out?"
"Sometime after I woke after the first Elf Wars." Zero said. "The war that claimed your life Douglas."
"Don't remind me." He said.
"W is the symbol of my creator." Zero said. "But I don't know any further than that. We need to find a way to backtrack where that uplink came from. If we did, we might be able to locate where their hiding. It looks like their specifically targeting me…but I don't know why."
"Well we're not going to get much farther from that." Cerveau said as he shut down his machine. "I won't be able to trace the source until it comes up again…I can't go on much farther from this."
"Perfect." Zero said.
"Do you think this…W guy is dangerous?" Douglas asked.
"I don't know; but that's the part that worries me." Zero said.
XXXXXXXXXX
Lelouch and C.C. we're in their room together.
"I've sent the Black Knights to look for Mao." Lelouch said.
"What if he's in the ghetto and not in the settlement?" C.C. asked. "You should use me as bait to draw him out. I'm Mao's target so…"
"Tell me." Lelouch said suddenly.
C.C. immediately stopped talking.
"If I keep on using my Geass," Lelouch began. "We'll I become like him?"
Lelouch was already stressed out. The indication was the pen he had continually being pushed down in multiple sessions. "
"Or did this happen because you couldn't fulfill his contract to you?" He continued to ask.
"Well…" C.C. said. "The Geass power grows with each use. Those who can't control their power will become consumed by it."
"And knowing this!" Lelouch shouted with more rage. "You still made these contracts? With me! With Mao!"
"I did." C.C. said with guilt.
"You cruel women." Lelouch said. "I don't know why anyone would want to go after you. Tell me…Did you abandon Mao because he couldn't fulfill his contract?
C.C. couldn't think of anything to say. Lelouch was literally cutting her to the bone now. Normally she could think of snappy comebacks or something to make Lelouch look like an idiot. But it was not today.
"YOU DISGUST ME!" Lelouch shouted.
In anger, Lelouch threw his hand forward and knocked the pieces off of his chess game.
"Why didn't you take his power back!" He shouted. "Or even ended his life! Because of your actions, Shirley…"
Lelouch couldn't bring himself to say it. He went into a corner and put his hand on his head. Sorrow, anger, and many other conflicting emotions continued to flood his mind.
She had to get away from him.
"Starting today." C.C. said. "I will be staying at the tower next door."
XXXXXXXXXX
R&D division continued to work on the new Reploids that they had obtained. Lloyd was utterly fascinated with the designs from the Reploids he had seen. Their circuitry was so advanced. He was writing down strange theories about attempting to fuse the machinery of Reploids with the Lancelot. While he wrote them down, X walked into the room.
"Sorry I'm late." X said. "What was so important that you had called over here on short notice?"
"Ahh X." Lloyd said. "I wanted your opinions on this Reploid here?"
"Reploid?" X asked.
X went down into the truck to the circuitry outline of a Reploid.
"What's going on Doc?" X asked as Lloyd inserted a new part into it.
"I decided that the best way to see if I'm getting this Reploid deal right is to build one myself." Lloyd said. "I need your opinions to see if I doing this correctly."
"All right then." X said. "This is a dangerous game here doc, but if you think you can bridge the gap…I'm all for helping you."
While the two conversed and discussed the theories posted, Cecile checked on Suzaku.
"A medical check?" Suzaku asked.
"It's a requirement for all Knightmare pilots." Cecile said.
"Okay then." Suzaku said.
"All right." Cecile said. "After school it is then."
Suzaku began to walk down. Before he did, he looked back at Cecile.
"Oh Cecile." Suzaku said. "Is there any way for me to meet with Princess Euphiema?"
"You with the princess!" Serges said. "That's a bold request. I'd grant it just for asking it?"
"The princess?" Cecile said.
"Forget it." Lloyd said. "You'd need to be at least a Knight of Honor to get an audience with her."
"Maybe." Cecile said. "But perhaps a Duke could arrange it?"
"Duke?" Suzaku said.
It didn't take long for Suzaku to get what Cecile meant by that.
"Lloyd!" Suzaku shouted. "You're…"
"Well now!" Lloyd said. "Must have slipped my mind."
Alia's month was literally down to her chest. She looked at X for confirmation.
"I'm…just as surprised as you are." X said.
The whole R&D division had a laugh at this new found knowledge.
"Speaking of which," Alia said. "Where's Iris?"
XXXXXXXXXX
Iris walked through the Britannian settlement as the crowds of people gathered at the mall.
"She said she was going to go out shopping and get a feel for the area for her day off. She's going to be back tomorrow."
"I hope Cornelia or Vile doesn't realize we're giving you guys days off like a regular work week…I'll be in hot water for sure."
"That will be twenty-nine pounds." A clerk said.
"Thanks." Iris said as she handed him the money.
Iris decided to spend her day doing a stereo-typical girl thing: Clothes shopping. After all, this was her first time out in the open. She has went to a mall nearby Ashford academy. The atmosphere around her was fine as the fountains sprouted water and the people ran and bustled about, both on the second and first floor. She had just left the boutique and began to headed towards an electronics shop. Sure, she'd look like a nerd (and a damn fine looking one at that), but her job was already nerdy enough. No sense in hiding it. As she walked through the society, a man came up and snatched the purse that she got from Cecile.
"Hey!" She shouted. "Give that back!"
The man continued to run through the crowds. No one seemed to notice him. Iris ran after him, but she wasn't nearly as fast as him. She was just about to give up.
When Zero descended from the top balcony of the store and landed on top of the guy.
Iris couldn't react. She and everyone around her backed up as Zero grabbed the man's hands and pulled them behind his back.
"Zion!" Ceil shouted from the second floor. "Are you alright!"
"I'm fine." Zero said. "Can't say the same for this guy."
"LET GO; YOU'RE BREAKING MY ARMS!" The man said.
"Shut up before I actually do." Zero said, pulling them farther.
Iris walked over slowly as she saw Zero restrain the man. He grabbed the purse and handed it to her as the mall cops came and took the man away.
"Here you go." He said, handing it to her.
Iris looked at the man with utter shock. As she did, she had a flashback of Zero holding out his hand to her appeared in her mind. She ended up staring at Zero's figure, not realizing he and Ceil were already waving their hands in front of her face.
"You alright?" Zero asked.
XXXXXXXXXX
Lelouch called Millay and had her meet him outside the club house. He sounded urgent so she came as fast as she could.
"Just for a few days." Lelouch said. "If you can make the club house off limits."
"It's not like I can't do it." She said. "But…"
Millay's expression turned serious, just for a second.
"Nobody found out you're a prince right?"
"That knowledge is hidden." Lelouch said. "The only one who remembers is the Ashford family."
"Ashford." Millay said.
"Hmm?" Lelouch muttered in curiosity. He stopped talking to see that Millay had her usual goofy expression.
"Lelouch." She said. "My parents set me up with another suitor. I don't think I can get out of this one. What should I do?"
"And you go to me huh?" Lelouch said. "If you really want to go to someone for advice, you should talk to Zion."
"I know." She said. "But Zion…he's so…serious. And he's still a mystery at that too. I normally dig up lots of juicy bits about people, and I still don't know a lot about him. Why him?"
"I tend to…keep things to myself." Lelouch said. "He doesn't really care about other people's opinions of the things he says."
"I see." Millay said.
"Ms President!" Shirley shouted from afar.
Lelouch cringed when he heard her. He didn't want to even be near her because of what he did. There was no escaping this one. He lowered his head hoping that she wouldn't recognize him as she went over and began to talk to Millay.
"Shirley!" Millay said. "Were you back at morning practice?"
"Yep." She said. "No sense in staying sad forever."
"I should talk lessons from your positive attitude." Millay said.
"Why you?" Shirley asked. "You're the one who…"
Shirley stopped. It didn't take long for Lelouch to notice she was looking right at him.
"You're the boy from…" Shirley began.
"Are you kidding?" Millay asked. "We're in the same class."
"I don't think so." Shirley said.
Lelouch looked at her emotionless.
"Enough." He said.
"Shirley!" A girl from a distance called out. "We're going to be late!"
"Sorry." Shirley shouted. "See you prez! Tell Zion I said hi!"
Shirley ran away from the school house. Millay looked at Shirley with confusion after she got far enough. Once Millay felt it was safe, she looked at Lelouch.
"What was that all about?" She asked.
"We had a little fight." Lelouch said.
"So she's acting like she doesn't know you?" Millay said. "What an adorable play!"
Millay couldn't help but laugh her usually sadistic laugh. Lelouch couldn't even respond. She could never understand what he was going through.
"I don't mean to be a bother; but could you go along with it for a bit?" Lelouch asked.
"How long you think she'll be at it?" Millay asked.
"Awhile." Lelouch concluded.
XXXXXXXXXX
Bass woke up abruptly. It had felt like years, yet it was only twenty-four hours. The pain Wily had given him was beyond anything he had imagined. His entire body was still shaking from the ordeal. Telemetric data, binary codes, and random Windows prompts continued to flash in his mind as his systems went back online. He was alone in a dark room…at least that's what he could make from what sight he had currently; the only light source from a door.
With Wily standing there.
"I trust Bass you won't make remarks like that again?" He asked.
"Damn you!" He shouted. "What the fuck have you done to me!"
"I had to teach you a lesson." Wily said. "It was my mistake to give you free will when I built; but I can't take that back now. Besides, compared to my other robots, you perform at a far more optimal rate with your ability to think for yourself."
Bass struggled to get up, his feet shaking.
"I just don't like being made fun of."
"So you torture me!" Bass shouted. "If it wasn't for that…"
"Silence." Wily shouted. "Unless you wish to go through it again. I have no problem instituting authority!"
Bass grunted and stopped.
"Good." He said. "Now head down to the repair bay and prepare for another attack on Zero when I give the signal."
Bass attempted to walk towards the door, but his legs couldn't move and he fell. Wily caught him with his cane and lifted him back up. Bass stood still for a second and allowed his system to reconfig his legs. After a few minutes, Bass began to walk normally, with Wily following him.
"I still don't see why we need Zero for this." Bass said. "We already have Ragnorock in space. What do we need Zero for?"
"Zero is a powerful Reploid who carries all of my original work on him." Wily said. "Yes we have the station in the air, but it is inoperable. Zero's data holds the key to three things ideal for our plan: Controlling all Reploids, controlling and spreading the Maverick virus, and the data for the station. You see Bass, we don't really need Zero, just his data. Unlocking it though requires him to become awakened. Therefore, you will keep warring against Zero until he decides to come here and surrender the data and himself to us. After which, you can do to him as you feel."
"Kill him?" Bass asked.
"Wouldn't like the idea…but yes." Wily said. "With his body data built now with you, what's the point in keeping him other than to have another?"
"Rule over him?" Bass asked.
"You are the elder." Wily said.
Bass continued to walk alongside Wily.
"You've really changed Doc." He said. "Did it have to do with that thing in your eye?"
"Possibly." Wily said.
XXXXXXXXXX
"I see." Zero said as he Ceil, and Iris sat down on at a fast food joint in the mall. "So you're the daughter of a diplomat? Not very common around here. Surprised you're down here by yourself."
"Yeah." Iris said.
Wow. I can't believe that lie worked.
"So what's your name?" Zero asked.
"Iris." She said.
Zero's eyes peaked with curiosity when he heard that.
Iris…come to think of it…she looks a lot like her…wait…get this through your head Zero…
"Iris huh?" He said.
"That name sounds familiar." Ceil said.
"Does it now?" Iris said. "What's your names anyway?"
"Zion." Zero said.
"I'm Ceil." Ceil said. "Nice to meet you Iris."
"Pleasure." She said. "So Zion…are you like a police officer or something?"
Zero laid back on his chair.
"I'm just a student." He said. "Sure I can pull some flashy moves…all of which I learned at a dojo and years of par core. Everything I did is something anyone can do with a little practice."
Ceil shrugged.
"Yeah but not too many people leap from one story to the bottom." Ceil said.
"True." Zero said.
Iris just stood there merrily giggling to the sound of Zero's conceited remarks. Still, as she continued to talk to the teenage appearing youth, she couldn't help but feel as if she knew this man. Little did she know it was Zero.
Likewise, Zero had no idea it was her either. His suspicion was killed on the account that Iris died. Peacefully at that. Besides, he would never want her to see what he was doing now.
Still, maybe…
"You know." He said without thinking. "I knew an Iris once. Funny thing is…she looked a lot like you."
"Really?" Iris said. "I bet you say that to all the girls you see."
Ceil ignited with jealously. Zero immediately caught this.
"I mean…well…uhh…" Zero said. "That came out wrong."
"Heh." Iris said. "It's alright. I have a boyfriend anyway."
Looks like Ceil likes this guy.
"Thanks for helping though." Iris said. "I should really get going. No telling if someone else will come too."
"It's possible." Zero said. "Around here make look nice and good, but the honest truth is because of the way Britannia oppresses the people they conquered, so people have no real option. You'd think there would be freedom, but that's just a misguided dream. People will do what it takes to survive. And that's that."
Iris looked at Zero with complete shock. She again had another flashback. This time she looked more closely on him.
Now that I think about it, he does look an awful like Zero. In fact…yeah…could it…maybe…I mean…damn…focus…all right…maybe he is…and maybe he isn't. Got to try at least.
"You know what's really funny?" Iris said. "I knew a guy once who looked a lot like you. What you said right now reminded me of him."
"Hmm?" He asked.
"You kind of look like him too when I think about it." Iris said. "Umm…you wouldn't happen to be…"
A cell phone rang. Zero picked up his phone. It was Lelouch. He answered the phone.
"What?" He asked. "…Got it."
He hung it up and put it back into his pocket.
"Ceil…let's go." Zero said "Miss Iris…farewell."
Zero and Ceil got up and walked from the area where Iris was. Iris watched as Zero disappeared into the crowd. To her eyes, she knew there was something about him. But she also figured that meeting him like that would not have been likely.
XXXXXXXXXX
Mao and Dynamo walked into a power tool store. Mao immediately ordered a power saw from the man. The man seemed not to care as he polished a rifle.
"I can't sell something like that to you." He said. "You're from the Chinese Federation aren't you."
"Funny that you seem to sell weapons to the Black Knights." Mao said.
The man froze with fear.
"You meet a man named Wolf not too long ago." Mao continued. "An Alias to be assumed."
The man looked up at the two strangers with terror.
"So…" Dynamo said. "Either do what we want, or one of two things will happen: We can tell the police and reveal this little op. Or…"
Dynamo pulled out a cylinder object. He spun it around between two fingers and activated the left side to his beam saber and pointed it at him. The man voided his bowels and went on the floor as the pink beam of light singed his skin.
"Or you can go in pieces."
XXXXXXXXXX
Lelouch returned home late that night. It was much quieter with C.C. gone. Nunally was already asleep. Sayoko was out as well. He was the only one there. Alone.
"Mao's range is 500 meters." Lelouch said. "Which means he could be anywhere at this moment. I could use that to my advantage though. My only shot is if the Reploids can get to him. They don't have a brain…no…they may not have a brain…but their CPU is designed the same. They would be able to read their minds. But what can Mao do against…shit! He has a Reploid too! Argh! It's like I have only one piece needed to put him in check!"
"Still lost huh?" C.C. said as she suddenly appeared from behind.
"C.C!" Lelouch said.
"I pray we can work together now?" She asked.
Lelouch stood there silent. There was no way around it now. C.C. may have screwed up, but there was no reason to be mad at her, especially since Mao may be after him.
Lelouch's phone rang.
Merry Christmas people. After two months of not updating this, Im updating this. There's your present. Enjoy.
Anyway…schools out for now. I might be able to get some more in. Course, I have been playing a lot of Kingdom Hearts…and that's a big distraction. Especially when you have a KH fanfic of your own.
So Zero and Iris met now. Both are suspicious of each other, but neither side believes the other is there. After all, Iris was dead and Zero is well…Zero (No logical behind that response).
Any clues with Wily yet? And was Ragnorock a surprise.
If you think that's interesting, I have future plans for Mao after Episode 16 too. Prepare your bladder for imminent fan girl (or boy) release!