Turn XVII: Land of Confusion.
(Sword of Akasha)
"It has been some time Lelouch….my son… "Charles said to his son.
"I shall have you answer my question from eight years ago! Why did you not protect mother? When the other members of the royalty viewed her as an eyesore!" Lelouch said as he got behind the Shinkiro for protection.
"Humans are not born equal" was Charles's only answer.
"You have an army, a country and a corporation to do you're biding, you should use that power to discover the answer" Charles replied.
"Are you saying power equals answers?...that may be true, but the way you obtain power is also important, you a son of a bitch who uses that devilish geass to your biding should have never been born!" Lelouch said in frustration at his current situation.
"Is that your verdict? The verdict of the Iron Prince?" Charles said amused.
"It's the verdict of truth! And the truth is only humans should have the power to decide humanities fate, demons like you should just die!" Lelouch spat back.
"Very well…" Charles said and much to Lelouch's shock he took out a gun and shot himself n the chest.
(Kish Island)
"I have to go now I am afraid" James said to Nodoka, with his mission to convince Iran to remain neutral a success he now had no more reason to remain here.
"Take care of yourself James" Nodoka said to him.
"I will, and Kallen…..good luck on the field when the war begins" James replied and boarded his plane.
(Geass cult headquarters)
"It's been years since we've met face to face V.V, in the end, I wasn't able to escape my fate" C.C said to him.
"I….will…accept that…fate…The fate of immortality" V.V said as he collapsed forward from his wounds.
"This is….V.V you…" C.C said amazed as she got closer to have a good look at V.V
"So, Charles….Because I'm…the elder one here…" V.V said as he passed away while he relived the moment he and Charles made a pact to rid the world of lies.
(Sword of Akasha)
"He's dead…..just like that….I wanted to ask him things, I wanted to make him apologize to some, yet…."Lelouch lamented.
"Oh, to whom? How impudent…Lelouch!" Charles said abruptly as he got up and this greatly startled Lelouch.
"Impossible!Your heart was definitely-" Lelouch said now very terrified.
"Strategies, traps, surprise attacks… trying to defeat me using such cheap tricks…Come and face me head on in a deal, through the way of kings, if you wish to succeed the power of kings" Charles said to his son.
Lelouch immediately pulled out his V.A.R.I.S gun and fired at his father, the powerful bullets made wholes as wide as an extended palm, but the instantly healed, much to Lelouch's horror.
"That's more like it! But don't you see, Lelouch? Sword, guns, nothing will be able to kill me now!" he said as he removed his glove to show his son the symbol of immortality.
At this revelation Lelouch suddenly collapsed on his back.
That man is immortal?...I can't win…there's no way I can win…" he thought to himself as he now realized all of his triumphs: The Phoenix Fund, The Black Knights, Fukuoka, Gettysburg, Battle of Bengal rice fields where all now worthless.
"I have obtained a new power to replace Geass. Therefore, Lelouch…I may now tell you, the true form of this world" Charles said as he activated one function of Akasha.
Lelouch found himself in an environment filled with light and what appeared to be hovering masks.
"What is Geass. What are you trying to do?" Lelouch said to Charles who appeared before him.
"Such an Irony, the one who is stained with so many lies desires to know the truth from others…." Charles replied.
"What?" Lelouch asked confused
"What is your true intention for all of your actions up until now? You told the world you wish to usher in a new era of equality, but in truth you wish to destroy the empire and it's foundation from within, the Mask of Zero is nothing more than a big con job" Charles replied to his son.
"Shut up! I gave them hope, I gave them a better life, they get that and I get to obtain my goal!" Lelouch roared out.
"And how many people have died because of you?" one mask said.
"You actions started a chain reaction which through the world into chaos, you have gained power, titles, territory and underlings and you paid that price in blood and lies" another mask said.
"Shut up! Everyone lies, I just did the same, and can you criticize me, when you have done things far worse than myself and for far lesser reasons?" Lelouch countered.
"But can you receive the title of hero, when you yourself know you are not that, can you be called a savior when you did this all for your gain and not for the gain of others, can you even stand to look yourself in the mirror? No! That is why you wear the mask of Zero" a third mask replied.
Lelouch at this was left without a counter for in his heart he knew that what they said was true.
"There is no need for lies. For I am you, and you are me" Charles said as he appeared once again before his son.
"Yes, there is only one human in this world. Be it in the past, present of future there has, is, and will be but one human in the history of humankind…" Charles added.
"One? What are you talking about?" Lelouch asked confused.
"Charles. The time for games has ended already. To me, he no longer holds any value." C.C said as she appeared before them.
"C.C" Lelouch said surprised to see her here.
"There is no need to use him to get me. I am already here" C.C added.
"Indeed, C.C. I shall grant your wish" Charles replied.
"You know C.C's wish?" Lelouch said surprised.
"Lelouch, I shall reveal to you my wish, the wish you could have fulfilled if you accepted my pact…my wish now…My wish is to die, for my existence to end forever." C.C replied
"End? But you are…."
"What lies at the end of Geass for its users…is to succeed the position of the one who bestowed the power on them. In other words, one would obtain the ability to kill me." C.C replied.
"Kill you?"
"Of the many people that have had a pact with me, none were able to attain that goal. However, now there is one-Charles" C.C replied.
"Impossible…You wanted to make a pact with me in order to die?" Lelouch asked.
"Correct." C.C replied.
"You've lived in order to die?" Lelouch asked.
"Therein lies the providence of this world. Such a limit is called life" C.C replied.
"No! There is life because one is alive!" Lelouch replied.
"Same thing. People are aware of life when they are aware of death." C.C replied.
"You're just playing with words!" Lelouch retorted.
"But people do die" she replied.
"Even so, what is the reason…the meaning of birth in this world?" Lelouch asked.
"You know that. Those are nothing but mere illusions" C.C replied.
"A life that just has death is too tragic!" Lelouch replied now desperate to change her mind.
"You don't call endless aggregation of not dying, 'life'. That is merely an experience" C.C replied much to Lelouch's shock.
"If you have a reason to live, then kill me, Oh! I forgot you refused geass, you did not compromise, you always had to follow some shallow code of Chivalry, Farewell Lelouch" C.C said and he activated a device which made him leave the respective area.
They were now back at the sword of Akasha.
"Charles, why did you take away V.V's Code?" C.C asked.
"Is there any meaning to your question? You are about to embrace death" Charles replied.
"You're right…"C.C replied.
(Dallas Laboratories)
"Forgive me tardiness. I was speaking with Nunnally" Schneizell said as he walked into the monitor room.
There Nina and the other scientists where testing the now first prototype for F.L.E.Y.A, a weapon which could only be described as giving a light as beautiful as heaven and making destruction as gruesome as hell
(Geass cult)
"Father is the one leading these cultists?" Cornelia said to Lelouch's lieutenants.
"Yes your highness" Jeremiah replied.
"…well this is surprising even for him, also I heard he had some mad plan from those hear, anyway where's Lelouch?" Cornelia asked.
"He went hunting for the leader, he turned off his I.F.F to avoid detection, he will probably appear again after he is done" Omar said to her.
"Cornelia-sama there is one thing I need to ask you…" Suzaku said as he took a step forward"….our actions today is a clear sign of secret rebellion against the Emperor, for now he may need us for the upcoming war with the Slayers, but what happens after that is obvious…what I am asking is whose side of the barricade will you grace be then?" Suzaku said bluntly.
At this everyone was tense and an eerie silence came over them as they waited to know if she would be friend of foe.
(Sword of Akasha)
Lelouch had just finished viewing the memories C.C gave him of her life and as he woke up he saw that Charles was trying to absorb her Code.
"What are you doing C.C? You want to die you say, don't be ridiculous! You said that we where partners in everything, are you going to relinquish your part of the bargain?" Lelouch said as he powered up his Shinkiro as he found himself inside of it once more.
"Not only that but you die to yourself, you say you want to die, but no creature has the right to think like that, what you desire isn't death but an end to your loneliness, so I will grant that for you!" Lelouch added and he fired the Shinkiro into the Akasha pillars, this stopped Charles's Code absorption and Lelouch quickly rescued C.C and he left the now crumbling sword of Akasha.
(Slayers video conference private secure channel)
"So with that Iran will remain neutral in the coming conflict, it's unfortunate but on the bright side Germany is with us now and that should even the playing fields for our side" Todoh said.
"Unfortunately for Germany's assistance we had to give Kusakabe the position of Minister of Defense, will we be alright with him in charge?" Ohgi asked.
"Don't worry! With my position as Chairwoman I outrank him and will be able to control him, more importantly what will be our strategy for the coming war?" Kaguya answered.
"Our strategy is the following: we will divide our forces into two, a third of them will remain in our territory to act as rear guards, the other two thirds will launch a full scale assault on Japan, our main targets are, Tokyo and Kyushu" Xingke replied.
"Kyushu will be necessary for our supply lines, but if necessary we can manage without it, Tokyo is the main export route of Sakuradite from Japan, without it Brittannia will not be able to resupply their armies and their war machines will come to a halt" Todoh added.
"Who will lead these two armies?" Ohgi asked.
"I will lead the Kyushu force, General Todoh will lead the Tokyo force." Xingke replied.
"IS there not the danger of Brittannia invading our territory as we commit most of our forces to Japan, and even without the sakuradite supply lines they could continue to advance?" Kaguya asked.
"There is that danger, but if we manage to capture Tokyo than the various Area's will revolt, Brittannia cannot sustain a war while they are fasted with such instability at home and we will be the victors" Todoh replied.
"Then the decisive battle is in Tokyo now and this time we must settle things once and for all with Zero-sama" Kaguya replied and everyone knew this would be the decisive hour.
(Geass cult)
"Everyone this is Lelouch, I've finis taking down the enemy leader, but my knightmare is drained, I am sending you the signal now to retrieve me" Lelouch replied.
C.C who up until now had been faint from Charles actions woke up.
"Are..are you my master?" C.C said now very frightened.
"My name is Elisabeth, I am good at sowing, some cooking, taking water to the animals…" she said to Lelouch.
In all this had been one fucked up day and Lelouch was now more shocked and confused than he had ever been in his life.
Microsoft Encarta
The upcoming battle of Tokyo was to be one of the most controversial in modern military history
Despite it's official naming it had various other names given by historians
The Empire calls it: The Empire's Austerlitz, Zero's perfect battle.
The U.F.N calls it: Lelouch's Waterloo, Todoh's second miracle
But there is a fifth name for it which it had received from those who participated in it:
The Titanomachy a battle so great and so powerful it seemed as though heaven and hell itself joined in the fray and fought each other on that field with the armies of the slayers and the Black Knights
For the first time in history the words" Battle that shook the world to the core would gain a literal meaning.
Author's note :Read and Review, let me know is I should continue.