Recap: Alex and the OSI is closing in on the student council. Lelouch is faced with a hostage crisis at the Kawaguchi Hotel.
Chapter 34: Taken Hostage
For the longest time, I thought the worst day of my life would be finding Empress Marianne bleeding out on the stairs. I failed in my duty that day. Nothing though prepared for me the day when I heard Euphie was among the hostages at the Kawaguchi Hotel. I was an ocean away, unable to help, forced to listen to the news for any update. At first, I feared that my enemies had finally taken her hostage to use her against me. It was almost a relief to hear they were Elevens, but then—
—From the Journals of Princess Cornelia li Britannia
Tokyo, Area Eleven
With a heavy heart, Alex slowly approached the courtyard despite being late. He missed the division and the simplicity of morality within. Now, his actions were no longer a matter of survival, nor were they guided by Lelouch's clear sight.
His handler's vision seemed primarily motivated by personal gain and petty vengeance. The Leannettes had been innocent; of that, Alex had no doubt. That didn't matter when they insulted a lord whose grandson was in the OSI.
Sitting on the fountain in the center of the courtyard, his target studied a large sketchpad. Allie tapped the tip of her pencil against her chin, then resumed sketching.
Curious, he followed her line of sight to a noble woman haphazardly lying on a park bench. A butler stood at her side, but did nothing to correct her scandalous position.
"Are you sure that's wise?" he asked, peering over her shoulder at the ridiculous caricature. Just last week, another team had hunted down an amateur cartoonist for his unflattering depictions of General Bartley.
"It's not like I'm going to sell them. I'm not stupid." She finished by placing a mole on the cheek. "Besides, they deserve it."
"They?"
"Nobles." She flipped through various pages depicting many unflattering poses. "I'm merely drawing them as what they are: leeches."
She wasn't wrong, but wasn't her best friend an Imperial Princess? "Aren't you friends with Lady Ashford?"
"For the last time, just call her Milly."
"Her grandfather could have me arrested for looking at her wrong."
"She's not like most of them. She tells me all about the over the top balls she's dragged to. Two nobles once decided on their tax rates because of a bet." Allie's lip curled, and she raised her chin challengingly. "Do you think that's fair to their people? Do you think they have our best interests in mind at all?"
"No," Alex whispered. Not when he had seen nobles lure children off the streets with false promises, only to bound them in endless indenturement. Not when they laughed and placed bets on starving children fighting over the scrap they toosed them. Not when they took and took, until there was nothing left. In their minds, the laws didn't apply to them.
Allie hummed, satisfied.
"It's dangerous to talk like that," Alex warned, even if it was already far too late. He scanned the crowd again. "Where is Shirley?"
"You know." She gestured vaguely. "Ever since Shinjuku was locked down, the train schedule has been a mess. I wish the army would just leave. Can't get anywhere on time now."
The army. Zero. Lelouch.
A contingency for Alex if the situation turned sour, but he couldn't bring himself to contact Lelouch just yet. Not when he had nothing concrete and all his efforts would be in vain.
"Does she know?" Alex asked. "About your views?"
Allie snorted. "She doesn't get it. Even now, she still loves the military. They've done nothing but make everything worse."
"They're keeping the peace," he snapped.
"Peace? Maybe it should be disturbed when Clovis slaughters thousands. All they're doing is shielding Clovis from having to take some responsibility for once in his life."
"The Emperor intervened."
"Because of wasted labor or something; he doesn't give a shit. Nobility, royalty... They're all the same."
Scowling, Alex crossed his arms. "I wouldn't say that. The royal family has led Britannia for years, rebuilt the Empire after Napoleon. Without them, we'd be nothing. They're not like us."
"Sure they are. They all bleed the same. There's fundamentally no difference between a noble and a royal."
Perhaps, the OSI should be more concerned with what Lord Ashford was teaching his students. She was friends with an Imperial Princess, yet she couldn't see how special they were? He would gladly sacrifice everything for Lelouch. If anyone could turn this war torn and merciless world around, it would be Lelouch. It was in his blood. The men flocked to him because of it; they could feel it instinctively.
Yet Allie? She rejected that instinctive bond.
His guilt washed away, leaving only a simmering inferno of rage at her betrayal.
"Andreas!" interrupted Shirley before he accidentally broke his cover. She spun him around, pecked him on the cheek, then shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Over her shoulders rested a comfortably sized pink bag. "I'm sorry that I'm late! It was such a drag. They had to inspect the main line. I can't believe terrorists would use it for smuggling. Like seriously? We all just want things to get back to normal, but they're making it so hard."
Rolling her eyes, Allie tucked away her sketchbook and pulled an orange out of her bag. "So, where to?"
"Well... Andreas and I could go to the restaurant by the craft store. We'll be fine. It's the 21st century. A girl can be with a guy on her own."
"You promised to help me."
"Ugh! Couldn't we have rescheduled? On a day when I didn't have a date? You could've been enjoying a nice, relaxing spa day."
"We were supposed to be planning. We can't do that in the student council room. It's bugged! And Nunnally would be suspicious if we all went off to meet without her." Holding out her phone, Allie grinned. "It works out better this way anyway. Milly gets to probe her, and we put her intel into action. Besides, you were complaining that you don't know what to do on a date."
"Allie!" Shirley shrieked, covering her face. "You weren't supposed to say that. I just wanted something normal—not espionage!"
"Um?" Alex interrupted nervously. "I was thinking lunch? Then maybe going to the beach?"
"I'm so sorry," Shirley said. "Our friend is leaving soon, so we're supposed to plan a big surprise party. Unfortunately..."
"She's leaving sooner than expected," Allie finished.
"And her parents got her an aide who is creepy, and he tells Nunnally absolutely everything. He gives me the chills." She shivered. "How are we supposed to think with him around?"
"Like a shadow... Or a ghost," Allie mumbled.
"You're planning a party?" Alex confirmed. Not literal espionage? Not casually skirting a few hundred laws? Not actual treason? Just a totally innocent school activity. He hadn't been aware that the student council had it in them.
"Yep." Her phone buzzed, and Allie tilted her head, scanning the message. "Okay. Their appointment is later, but Milly got her in the perfume shop. I was right about the lavender. Also, cinnamon? And soy? I already know we need to find some tatami mats, but Milly says she can find some traditional instruments. Finding people to play them though... Euphie apparently says we need to make sponge cake. A giant spoke cake."
Shirley collapsed onto the fountain and dunked her hand in the water. "Why can't I be friends with normal people?"
"I'm normal," Allie protested.
"No. You and Nunnally are the absolute worst. At least Milly keeps her stuff contained to the school, but you two—" She covered her face. "I still can't believe I lied to that guard to help you."
"I met you at a protest," Alex said. That wasn't normal either.
"Her fault," Shirley grumbled. "Don't get me wrong, I like helping. It's fun. But Nunnally was the one to suggest we use a knightmare to make a giant pizza. Oh no... We're doing that again for the cake?"
Allie nodded. "Yeah. Too bad Kallen isn't here. I can't compete with her scores at all, but I should manage with cake." She pulled out a notepad. "Okay. Here's the game plan. First, we go to that French bakery and make an order for two hundred assorted pastries. Afterwards, we go to the bookstore. I've got some titles I think Nunnally would like. Then we'll bribe the audio club with the pastries so they finish recording the audiobook on time. I already bribed the dock worker by the junkyard, so we can just sneak in to pick up some tatami mats. The silk and perfume we'll leave to Milly. It's much too expensive for us commoners. For the sponge cake, we'll need to figure out how to buy flour and sugar without intelligence thinking we're making explosives..."
That really was the least of their worries with intelligence at the moment. Alex sighed and let Shirley pull him away as the girl descended into rapid incoherent mumblings.
"Really sorry about this. She's overcompensating." Shirley rolled her eyes. "She wants to prove she's the best possible friend."
"Well, at least it won't be boring?"
Two hours later, running from rather familiar members of the 712th Division, Alex thoroughly regretted tempting fate. He wasn't sure how throwing a bottle into the ghettos helped in planning a birthday party. At least, Shirley's brow was furrowed in bemusement as well.
Allie crowed victoriously as they hurtled around the corner and the soldiers finally gave up. "Okay. A pay phone. This number should work."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Shirley whispered. "She's scary."
"How else are we going to make sure Lelouch shows up? He's always busy."
Shirley nibbled on her lower lip. "But that's because he's in the army. How will his mother help?"
Wait... No. Was that girl insane? She couldn't just call Empress Marianne! Especially for something inconsequential as a goodbye party for her daughter. She wasn't going to care. She'd kill them all for being so presumptuous.
And he did not need the OSI agents trailing behind them to discover that their case had connections to royalty. Then it would become a political nightmare, and from the division's dealing with the OSI in the past, it was quite clear that the OSI was no friend of the Vi Britannias. York had even felt the need to be explicit on that. Lelouch had enemies in the OSI. Empress Marianne undoubtedly had as well.
Once the news worked its way up the chain of command, the OSI wouldn't pass on the opportunity to humiliate the Vi Britannias. They would leak Lelouch's civilian identity to the press, and none would know the source.
She had to be bluffing. No one would be that insane.
In silent horror, he watched her stop before a payphone and begin to dial in the numbers. His heart hammered in his chest. It was soon to move, but he had to stop her. To be safe, he should kill her now. Pretend it was an accident. Then there would be no unfortunate slips of dangerous information.
"Stop," he ordered, the knife resting loosely in his hands as she pressed the eighth number. "Step away."
Her mouth stretched, and her eyes blazed with an eager fire. "I was right. You did know something."
"What?" Shirley asked. "Andreas? Why are you holding a knife?"
"That's not his name," Allie said coldly. "He was a bit too convenient, coming in like that... And Rivalz was so scared."
"I thought he was jealous. You know how weird guys can get."
"No. Because he swore that your new boyfriend was the one to put him in the hospital."
Alex straightened his back and glanced down the suspiciously empty alleyway. His backup was a block away, not willing to risk being spotted. She had chosen the spot for their confrontation well.
He had underestimated her... How annoying.
"Andreas?" Shirley stumbled back, wide eyes glistening with tears. "Please tell me that's not true."
"You should've kept that to yourself." Frowning, he examined the blade in his hand. The hunt had come to an end. "If he can't keep quiet, he's a loose end to be taken care of."
"I won't let you hurt Nunnally," Allie warned. She pulled a baton from her bag and shifted into a loose fighting stance. "I don't know who hired you—"
"You think you have a chance?" Alex scoffed. "I've been training for years. And even if you could beat me, I have people guarding my back. You're all alone."
"But—" Tears streamed down Shirley's face as she retreated behind Allie. She clutched her purse like a lifeline. "I thought— It was all a lie? Why?"
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry, Shirley. You weren't really involved, merely had a poor choice of friends. Unfortunately, that doesn't matter. Sometimes, fortune simply doesn't favor us."
"The police will be here soon. I doubt Lord Ashford will treat you lightly once he hears of your plot." Allie raised her chin. "Who are you working for?"
"Enough," Alex spat. This charade was done.
He lunged forward, brandishing the knife in one hand. The girl's strike was ridiculously easy to parry, even as the shock ran up his arm from the baton. A familiar shape flashed in his peripheral, and he fell to the ground, moments before a gun shot blasted through the air.
Flabbergasted, he stared at the supposedly innocent target of his. Dried teartracks glistened on her cheeks. Inflamed eyes glared at him. Quivering hands pointed a gun at him.
The bullet was embedded in the plaster wall behind him.
She wouldn't miss again. With each breath she took, her grip steadied.
Hesitantly, he raised his hands; her's no longer wavered.
Allie sagged in relief. "You better start talking if you want to see the light of day."
"Your little stunt at Babylon Tower drew the wrong kind of attention."
"What? You're from some rival gang or so?"
Silently, Shirley mouthed "gang."
"Your friend took over a criminal syndicate," Alex explained. "It's how you've had all the resources to do your volunteering work. That part sealed your fate. Before, you were a nuisance. Now, you're guilty of committing treason."
"But—" Allie's eyes drew together. "You never said anything about our talks. You agree with me. You weren't lying."
"Treason?" Shirley asked, trembling. "We didn't— We weren't breaking any laws."
"Minor ones don't count, right? Especially when you're friends with the granddaughter of Margrave Ashford of Tokyo? Yet, you were still plotting against Prince Clovis. Everything else is secondary. Lower the gun, Shirley. Don't make this worse on yourself. The OSI already issued a warrant for both of your arrests."
The blood drained from her face.
"I suggest confessing. Then at least your family might be spared."
"My family?" The gun fell from her grasp, and Allie whirled around to stop her, but Alex was already moving.
He kicked the gun away and slammed the knife into her side. Allie gasped, hand instinctively going to her side as her shirt blossomed red. On the ground, Shirley stared blankly up at them in incomprehension.
A hefty kick glanced off Alex's jaw, and he growled to himself. She practiced the sword, not martial arts according to her file. She stumbled backwards, swaying slightly. Her lips twisted into a snarl, and she swung the baton at his head with deadly accuracy. He stepped to the side, into a cloud of pepper spray.
His eyes burning, he launched himself at the girl, tackling her to the ground. Behind him, he could hear the secondary target stumbling away, presumably searching for the gun if she had the wits to employ pepper spray. His arm snaked around his primary target's neck, and he pulled backwards. She bucked beneath him, trying to dislodge him. When that didn't work, she threw herself backwards, slamming both of them into the ground.
His head rang, but he didn't let go. Never let go. The last time he did, years before enlisting, he was stabbed for his idiocy.
Finally, she collapsed, and he held it for another ten seconds, making sure she wasn't faking him before finally allowing her to breathe once more. Across from him, Shawn had subdued Shirley. Her gun lay discarded on the ground as he ran a finger down her petrified face.
"We should go after kids more often," Shawn announced. "They're such fun."
Alex bit his tongue and began patting down Allie for other weapons. She stirred, and her eyes blinked open.
"They don't know about Nunnally yet," he whispered and pressed his knife into her hand. Then, he tightened the handcuffs. "The OSI can't know. Understood?"
"What?" she asked weakly.
"If I thought you would betray her, I'd have killed you already. That knife is for you. You won't escape, but if it becomes too much, I think you'd prefer death over betraying her." Projecting a false calm, Alex stood. He might still have to kill her himself. For both of their sakes, he hoped she would be resilient enough. "She needs medical attention if you want her to survive for interrogation."
Shawn chuckled, looping an arm over his shoulder. "And that's why you wait. It prevents the rabbits from dying of shock."
"I do like a good fight."
"Yes." Shawn laughed, looking again at Shirley who glared at them balefully through tear filled eyes. "That face right there? The total betrayal? I had my doubts about your soft approach. But that? That makes it all worth it."
Lake Kawaguchi, Area Eleven
Kallen watched as the technicians began prepping the Horus to the side. This would be her first mission with the prototype frame if Lamperouge ordered her to go. Silently, she cursed whichever party was responsible. Britannia did not negotiate with terrorists. People were going to die.
The squeal of rubber on pavement announced Gino's arrival, and he angrily climbed out of the knightmare, throwing his gloves on the ground in disgust.
"What's the situation?" Lamperouge barked, materializing beside them. He thrummed with nervous energy, casting quick glances at the building every few seconds.
"They've got everything tied down tight, and they've set up artillery in the supply tunnel. It would be suicide for our ground troops."
"Can you?"
"Maybe." Gino grimaced. "But not fast enough. They'll have plenty of time to kill the hostages."
"Damn it." Lamperouge began to pace. "The Sakuradite Conference is today."
Kallen's eyes widened. Kaguya. She was supposed to attend. The JLF couldn't be responsible. They wouldn't risk one of their own, right?
"Why does that matter?" Gino asked. "We have twenty-four hours to try and negotiate according to procedure before eliminating them."
"We can't," Kallen protested and froze underneath their harsh stares. Swallowing, she continued, "A lot of influential nobles will be attending as well as various diplomats. If they die, we'll be blamed."
"That's why we have twenty-four hours, Stadtfeld," Lamperouge said bitterly. "We don't even know who they are or what they want yet. The alarm simply went off, and we've heard nothing since then."
"Are the hostages..."
"I don't know." Lamperouge sighed. "How the fuck did they even get in there?"
"Sir," an older voice interrupted, and Kallen gaped as the leader of the Purists Party in Japan, Lord Gottwald, waited respectfully with a salute.
Lamperouge returned the salute. "You have something?"
Lord Gottwald winced. "Prince Clovis has ordered us to not interfere."
"Excuse me?"
"I tried to argue otherwise, but General Bartley is standing with Prince Clovis. They say we shouldn't waste resources on a trivial matter."
"So he does know who is responsible?" Lamperouge accused.
"I do not know... sir. I am not privy to matters of intelligence at the moment. I am of course willing to lend my expertise, but Prince Clovis's orders are explicitly clear."
"You may report back to Prince Clovis that should any of the hostages die, I will place the blame at his feet when I report to the Emperor."
"Yes, sir."
Kallen watched Lord Gottwald retreat, befuddled by his obliging and respectful attitude. He had to know Lamperouge was Zero; it was the only explanation, but even then it didn't make sense. The Purists didn't like Zero, who so often exposed the illicit dealings of nobility.
"He knows," Lamperouge growled. "Of course he does, but he's going to play politics because he's an idiot. Of all the childish things—" He cut himself off, and they jogged after him as he stormed to the hastily erected tent. Inside, various officers studied the schematics of the hotel in quiet tones. "Roy. Please tell me you have something, anything."
Fadiman lowered the binder in his hands, oddly solemn. "Lelouch..."
"What?"
"Your sister is on the guest list. As well as Lady Ashford."
Lamperouge snatched the binder out of his hands, hastily flipping through the pages, and Kallen grimaced as she recognized the pictures of various student council members. She felt horrified at the slight feeling of elation. Surely, Lamperouge wouldn't let the hostages die now.
Finally, Lamperouge set the binder down. "This can't change anything."
"But it does."
"It can't," Lamperouge hissed. "We'll cross the bridge when—if we get there."
A chime pinged. "Sir, they've made contact." The radio operator pressed his hand against the headphones. "It's the Blood of the Samurai. We got a video feed."
The projector flickered to life as Lamperouge barked orders to keep it out of the media's hands.
An old Japanese man with his hands resting on a traditional samurai sword stood before various masked men with machine guns. Writhing in pain, one of the men pulled a Britannian noble into the frame by their hair. "I am Lieutenant Colonel Kusukabe of the Blood of the Samurai. Britannia thought Japan was dead, but you were wrong. We still fight for Japan!"
Kusukabe unsheathed his sword with a dramatic flourish. It stopped right at the noble's neck. "Still, while you may be Britannians, my quarrel is not with you, but your Empire. For this reason, I have taken the attendees of the Sakuradite Conference hostage." The video switched to a different camera panning over various hostages quivering in their lobby. "Should your government comply with our demands, I will return them safe and sound. If not, they will receive the same treatment as those in the Shinjuku Ghettos."
"They hacked the news feed, didn't they?" Lamperouge asked grimly. Bloody images of the ghetto flashed across the screen. "Where did they get that footage?"
"Telescope lenses?" one of the officers suggested. "We've had reporters hounding our borders since we arrived, but before—"
"Well, this is exactly what we were hoping to avoid."
"That's Chairman James," another officer pointed out as the camera panned over the hostages again. "Looks like some of the terrorists are hurt?"
"Some of the hostages must have put up some resistance," Lamperouge noted. "Match the rooms to the schematics and get me headcounts. We need to know where the hostages are if we're going to extract them."
Kusukabe continued on screen, demanding the release of various prisoners as well as the complete dissolution of the military containment of the Shinjuku ghetto. Abruptly, he swung his sword, cutting off the noble's head.
Hand covering her mouth, Kallen turned away. The man's desperate last scream echoed in her head.
Blood dripping from the sword, Kusukabe levied it to the camera. "This is our commitment and our promise. You have three hours, Prince Clovis, to respond to our demands. That should be enough time for you to finish your makeup. Tennōheika Banzai! Long Live Japan!"
The transmission abruptly cut.
"How fortuitous that Prince Clovis has preemptively recused himself and left the matter entirely to us," Lamperouge snarked.
"Um, sir?" an officer interrupted. "Prince Clovis just released a statement. He says he cannot dissolve the blockade as he has relinquished military control to the general in charge of Shinjuku."
"I'm going to kill him," Lamperouge hissed.
Nervously, the room turned to Gino who yawned and rubbed his ear. "Did someone say something? There's a mosquito buzzing around my ear. It's really loud."
"Weinberg," Lamperouge ordered, "Update the Emperor on the situation. Ask if you are authorized to use the floats. Then report back to Fadiman."
"Floats?" Kallen asked.
"You'll see, Stadtfeld."
Fadiman cleared his throat. "We're not blowing up the building—"
"But—"
"No."
Scowling, Lamperouge turned to the rest of the room. "Our first priority will be to secure the hostages. Our second priority is to ensure none escape justice. The terrorists are currently stranded in the middle of the lake, having destroyed the bridge connecting the hotel to the shore. They have no means to escape but by boat; I want eyes on the lake at all times.
"For now, we will try to delay until nightfall so we can use the fog as cover to approach. Prepare the infirmary for casualties. Kusukabe will have no qualms about maiming or killing the hostages if he senses us making any untoward moves. Lastly, I want to know how the fuck they got past security."
"Yes, sir!"
Kallen followed him and Fadiman into the small side tent set up as a makeshift office. Shifting her weight, she asked, "What do you need me to do, sir?"
"For now, have some patience. I don't want them to know about the Horus before we move to save the hostages. They already know of Gino because he's probing their defenses."
"About your—"
He raised his hand. "The student council will be fine. Kusukabe isn't enough of an idiot to target the women and children first. It doesn't make any sense... He's not the type to play politics."
Pulling up a seat, Fadiman flipped through a new binder. "Kusukabe is listed as a person of interest as a member of the JLF. Didn't he say they were the Blood of the Samurai?"
"Kusukabe jumped ship earlier in the year," Kallen interrupted. She would not let him pull down the JLF by association. If they wanted to survive Zero's wrath, they had to remain beneath his attention.
"What she said," Lamperouge said.
"It says here he was one of the core leaders of the JLF."
Snorting, Lamperouge shook his head. "If he had any power over their policy, the JLF would've been wiped out before. He's a nationalist, obsessed with Bushido and doesn't have a creative bone in his body. Besides, he and Tohdoh never got along particularly well."
"Who?" Fadiman flipped through the binder. "He's not in here."
"Oh. Never mind."
"Lelouch," he growled. "This is important."
"You think I don't know?" Lamperouge snapped. "My sister is in there!"
"And we need every advantage we can get! You cannot afford to handicap yourself out of some odd sense of honor. They will kill you if given the chance."
Lamperouge eyed her before pulling out a sheet of paper, neatly writing various names, both in English and in kanji. "Kusukabe and Katase both worked closely beneath the Prime Minister. Katase died during the invasion of Japan; he was specifically targeted for his sway in the military. Both of them were part of the old military guard and would have supported the Prime Minister's order to fight to the last man. The JLF is more concerned with protecting civilians and restrains themselves to military targets and criminal elements targeting the Japanese. Their attitude is completely different.
"Tohdoh... He is the only one left from the Japanese military brass who had had strong ties to the Prime Minister and various old families as well as significant influence in the military. He was also a big believer in patience. The JLF's tactics reek of him. It doesn't make any sense for the intelligence reports to claim that some lowly Lieutenant Iki or so founded the JLF. He was a nobody... Not to mention too young."
Despite being a member of the JLF, Kallen barely knew any of that. She had heard of General Iki, but never of Tohdoh, nor that Katase and Kususkabe had been close to the Prime Minister. Distrubed, she asked, "How can you be sure?"
"It's only a hunch, nothing actionable," Lamperouge answered, ignoring Fadiman's disbelieving snort. "I think Kusukabe using a sword of all things instead of a gun shows he's more traditionally minded."
"He's going to start killing hostages when Prince Clovis doesn't show," Fadiman warned.
"I'll talk to him and buy us more time. You'll need to move on your own."
"He's not going to fall for that."
"I'm betting on his hatred overriding the minimal common sense he has."
Kallen crossed her arms. "Why would he hate you more than Clovis?" Unless he was going to reveal himself as Zero. "He doesn't even know who you are."
"Well, I did beat him in Shogi." Lamperouge winced. "And insulted his honor, stole his watch, and mixed salt into his stash of tea leaves."
What—?
Fadiman dropped his head in his hands with a pained moan.
"I know, I was an asshole of a kid." Lamperouge smirked. "I can't negotiate his demands, but I can stroke his ego by submitting to his little powerplay. As for you, Stadtfeld, you're bait, or rather, Judas goat. You'll be using the opportunity to defect."
Her heart thundered in her head. "Excuse me?"
"Are you sure this is wise?" Fadiman interrupted.
Lamperouge shrugged as if treason, even one that was ordered, was a simple matter. "Well, we could take out the support beams—"
"We're not blowing up the hotel."
"But as you have objections, we'll launch a coordinated strike, and for that, I need intel. Sending her brother would lead to some complications."
"I can't be a spy," Kallen hissed. She was already a spy! This had to be a trap, but he looked so earnest and Kaguya was trapped in the building as well. Worst of all, if she refused, he would send her brother. "They'd never believe me."
Lamperouge snorted. "A bunch of nationalists. You'll make contact, posing as a Numbered soldier. Your father pressured you to enlist to help the family, but seeing Japan strike against Britannia, you've rediscovered your roots and wish for them to succeed. I'm sure you can find some information to sell to them as a secretary."
"Nobody would fall for that."
"You'd be surprised. They want to believe you. Otherwise, they're all doomed to a watery grave without having made an impact. You're the exact type of person they're hoping to inspire."
"The daughter of an Earl with mixed heritage?"
"Your cover. There are thousands of Honorary Britannians who enlisted. Some do it for a better life, many do it because there's nothing left, most have some ridiculous plan they have taken upon themselves, from sabotage to climbing the ranks."
She narrowed her eyes. "You sent Gino away. You could've said this in the command tent."
"It's often better to ask for forgiveness. Succeed, and you'll be celebrated as a hero for your integral part in recovering the hostages."
"Fail, and I'll be executed for treason."
"Then you have quite an incentive." He paused. "Don't mention my name. Tell them Gottwald is in charge, undoubtedly they'll have noticed him traipsing about. And— I know it's not in your nature, but try to appear subservient."
Lake Kawaguchi, Area Eleven
Watching Stadtfeld leave with surprisingly calm steps, Lelouch avoided Roy's reprimanding glare and drafted the appropriate paperwork. He wouldn't let her suffer the consequences for his failure after all. His father wasn't going to be amused by this latest stunt, but Lelouch was low on options. He only hoped that Euphie had the foresight to keep her head down. Nunnally—
She would be alright. She had to be. He couldn't afford to think anything else, not when his weakness would only invite further devastation. He should've been calmer before. The division mirrored his moods.
"She's a terrible actress," Roy finally said.
"She's a noble Partial," Lelouch dismissed. "And you made your opinion on the alternative quite clear."
"Demolish the building and Prince Clovis will use it against you. It's too risky, especially with your sister inside."
"Don't remind me. I can't—" He dropped his head into his hands. "They don't know yet, or they would've shouted it off the roof. If I do anything unusual, I tip my hands. I can't afford to—"
"Like responding to Kusukabe's demands?"
"Anyone but myself or Clovis, and he'll drop a hostage off the building for insulting him... I'm missing something. It doesn't make any sense. They don't have an escape route. They have to know they won't live another day."
Roy stood, half turning around before facing him again. "Why Stadtfeld? She's volatile and valuable as an ace. Her brother would've made more sense."
"Wouldn't have worked. They'd suspect him immediately... Among other issues."
"Let me guess," Roy said flatly. "While you've been paranoid that Stadtfeld, a noble, is somehow a spy, despite no evidence, her brother, who will never be able to hide his heritage, was a terrorist."
"He wasn't arrested," Lelouch grumbled, rising. If he was going to talk with Kusukabe, he couldn't be in his uniform and set off a thousand warning bells. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to change his hair color once more. "I know. I'm being irrationally paranoid, but she doesn't make sense. She has terrible control over her temper. Nobody sane would recruit her as a spy, and if she was going solo, then she would've done something by now."
"Because, like Pablo said, she's a teenager—your age, for all that you pretend otherwise. She's not going to be perfectly rational. What motive could she have?"
"It's Britannia." He pulled out a neat, white dress shirt and hunted down a cravat. If his men saw him, he'd never hear the end of it. "If she runs off and defects, then she won't have the opportunity to hand the Japanese resistance a next-generation knightmare frame. And then we're out of options, and will have to take out the support beams."
Roy massaged his forehead. "She won't, and you don't really think so either, or you wouldn't have been letting her get close to you... You want her as a knight."
"I need to know I can trust her, even if it's cruel." Lelouch sagged into his seat. "I always knew I'd lose Gino. I couldn't take that away from him, not when it would allow him to reconcile with his family if he wanted to. And— He's too easy to predict, both for myself and my enemies. He's earnest but too accepting. He would be a blind follower, and everyone would know it."
"But with her, your enemies would approach her to try and turn her against you," Roy said, shaking his head. "You want her to play double agent. Didn't you say nobody sane would recruit her as a spy?"
Lelouch glared at him halfheartedly. "She can be trained, we established that. Maybe it will work out, maybe it won't, but as long as my parents see me considering her, they should refrain from stealing her for the Rounds."
"Try to refrain from aggravating her too much, Lelouch. She will stab you."
Lelouch chuckled and finished setting up the computer so his hands and phone wouldn't be visible in the camera. "Take care of yourself. And give her a fair chance. If someone catches on, tell them she's probing our security."
"Good luck." Roy snapped to attention, and Lelouch returned it.
Finally, he was alone.
Lake Kawaguchi, Area Eleven
For all that Kallen was a spy and could be called upon by Kaguya to betray the division, she had never looked at the division from the perspective of an infiltrator. She had never noticed the regularity of the patrols, how they overlapped so there was never truly a moment of privacy. She had been ordered to covertly make contact with the enemy—no, the Japanese resistance members—but she had no idea where to begin.
Or on what exactly Lamperouge was testing her on.
The nape of her neck prickled as she broke into the radio room and tried to understand the mess of wires. She was quite sure someone had once shown her how to operate this, yet... What the hell was she doing?
"What are you doing?" Art asked, his arms crossed. He raised an eyebrow, and she recalled that he witnessed her breakdown over realizing Lamperouge was Zero. He hadn't said anything, but that could still change.
Kallen collapsed onto the ground. "Guess you caught me."
"Doing what?"
"Gosling ordered me to make contact and pretend to be a defector." That sounded even more ridiculous out loud. She was already a spy. Did that make her a triple agent? Or, because she had saved Lamperouge, had she lost the right to call herself an agent of Japan even in the first place? "I'm not going to help them. My friends are in there."
"Right. You know Lelouch's sister." Art walked to her side and re-plugged in the wires. A sudden stampede of footsteps rushed past them. Art stepped outside for a moment. When he returned, he was grave. "They killed the first hostage."
Kallen swallowed. "Already? Gosling said he was going to negotiate himself."
"I'm surprised it took this long, honestly. Hostage situations are always difficult. There are the more unplanned ones, spur of the moment. They're easier to resolve. Talk down your opponent. Most often, they just want to feel heard. But with terrorists? They know they won't leave the scene alive, so they're incentivized to not waver. We simply don't have much room for negotiation. And here? It's even worse. Because in the middle of the lake, there is no alternative escape. Still, they shouldn't have killed the hostage. Statistically, it lowers their chances of success."
"More are going to die, right?" she whispered.
"Let's get you in contact," he said in lieu of an answer. The radio crackled, and she waited with a bated breath as someone finally responded in confused Japanese.
With surprising ease, she slipped into her native language and introduced herself as a lowly, Japanese secretary. It was disconcerting how easily they believed her. How vulnerable they were to Britannian infiltrators posing as their own.
To the side, Art worked on his computer with a tense frown. His eyes occasionally darted to her, and she would tense, wondering what he saw. The call cut with orders to make contact again in two hours.
"What did you tell them?" Art asked.
"That Gottwald was in charge," she said.
"I should probably avoid him," Art mumbled.
She raised an eyebrow.
"I killed his father. It's one of those things which tends to cause grudges."
A shiver ran down her spine. It was so easy to forget that he used to fight Britannia as well.
"Come on," he ordered. "If you wait here the entire time, you will most definitely be caught. I'll see you in two hours."
She frowned, watching him go. How much of her conversation had he understood? To her knowledge, he didn't speak Japanese, and she couldn't imagine he had the chance to pick it up. Still, Nunnally and her brother knew Japanese as well. The language was nowhere near as secure as the JLF would like to believe.
Her watch set for a little under two hours, she leaned against a car and yawned, intent on catching up on some sleep before she would be called back into combat. Gino woke her before her alarm.
"Nervous?' he asked.
She glared at him. "Of course."
"Maybe you want to catch some sleep in Gosling's quarters. There's a rumor you two got out of the car in a state of partial undress."
"It was nothing like that!"
Gino held up his hands and flashed a blinding grin. "Your blushing says otherwise."
"Don't people have anything better to do? We're in the middle of a hostage crisis." She sank to the ground and buried her head between her knees. "I just want this all to be over. The wait is killing me."
"That's why people are joking around." He grimaced. "Lelouch gave you an assignment when he sent me away, didn't he? Something he doesn't want me to know about?"
"I'm sure you'll find out afterwards," she said bitterly. Maybe he would be the one to arrest her when this entire scheme failed.
"I wish he would trust me."
"You're one of the Emperor's swords."
He clasped a hand over his chest, falling sideways in a dead faint, before saving himself with a last minute roll. "I'll have you know I value my friendships very much. Although this is why, I must warn you in case there's any truth to the rumors, that you shouldn't pursue Lelouch."
"Wasn't planning on it," she grumbled. "Ask him out yourself; I don't care. As a Knight of the Round, it'd be far less inappropriate than when you were a subordinate."
"If only it were that easy... It would complicate matters needlessly for my family... and Lelouch. He never trusted me enough to say who he was. I swear sometimes— I get it though, even if he's a massive hypocrite. Kallen?"
"Yes?"
Cracking his shoulders, he stood. "Don't do anything before you know who he is."
She grimaced. "I already know he's Zero. I figured it out."
"Until you know and meet the would be in-laws." An enthusiastic grin washed away his brief grimace, and he bowed to her mockingly. He began to walk away before shouting over his shoulder, "Make sure to look up afterwards!"
"What are the floats?" she shouted after him.
"You'll see!"
Her watch buzzed, and she shook her head. Gino hadn't really changed, but he brought back a new piece of the puzzle. As a Knight of the Round, he became privy to Lamperouge's real identity, his noble identity. What had his family and the Weinbergs done, such that the strife between them could never be forgotten?
Art was already in the tent, waiting. Something about him felt different, and she was puzzled over his appearance. Same hair, same shirt, same shoes.
"I've received a temporary reprieve from the ankle monitor," he answered. "You did well last time, but you need to be more consistent. Play the character."
"I almost failed our theater unit in English," she whined.
"I can't imagine why.".
"I shouldn't be so bad at this." She was a damn spy! Yet, she couldn't do any of the basic essentials. "I'm a failure."
"Perfect. Now direct that as a moral failure for not having joined the rebellion already." He paused. "Okay. Not like that. You're supposed to be sad, not crazy like a serial killer."
"What does it matter? They're not seeing my face anyway."
"Because they'll be asking you to join the group delivering pizza. And then they'll choose you to verify the health of the hostages."
The radio crackled to life, and she took a deep breath. She just had to be herself. Her Japanese self. While surrounded by soldiers with doubts already being cast on her loyalties. If it wasn't for Kaguya and the student council being trapped within, she would fail on purpose.
"Slightly better. You're a little scared. No... Not terrified. Only a little because you're betraying Britannia?"
She froze. Why was she doing this again? She had to keep her cover as a loyal Britannian. Would a loyal Britannian obey orders to pretend to defect?
"Now you look confused."
"Shush," she ordered as the radio crackled to life. True to Art's words, they wanted her to join on the pizza expedition.
Lake Kawaguchi, Area Eleven
"What an unexpected surprise," Kusukabe greeted Lelouch. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned out of frame to talk to his subordinates before pinning him with a malicious glare. "Our message was to Prince Clovis, not a child."
Lelouch smiled pleasantly. He had one task here: buy the hostages more time. As long as Kusukabe thought that he had the upper hand, the hostages would live. For all that Kusukabe was a blustering fool, Lelouch shouldn't underestimate him. He had military experience while the original members of the Blood of the Samurai did not.
By "negotiating," both of them were taking themselves off the playing field. While Lelouch itched to return and take command, he could trust Roy to handle the situation. Hostage situations weren't outside of the norm, even if this one was far more public than anything which they were used to.
"I'm afraid my brother is preoccupied. He is leaving the situation in the military's capable hands."
Kusukabe snorted. "So why should I not shove a hostage off the roof?"
"Because Clovis won't care." Lelouch stared directly at the camera. "He ordered Shinjuku massacred. Britannian lives were lost as well. You would have better luck ransoming your hostages to their families."
"And you are still a liar." Taking a deep breath, Kusukabe composed himself. "This is an international conference. Britannia will be the laughingstock of the world. You willl be seen as weak."
"The general in charge will naturally be blamed, but Clovis has wiped his hands clean. It's not his mess."
"So, Your Highness," he spat, "what are you doing here?"
"I was in town," Lelouch said carefully. "While my brother may not care about lost lives, I do. If I can facilitate a peaceful resolution, then my job is done."
"Says the son of the Emperor and Bloody Marianne. We made our demands, boy. Why do you not begin by releasing all political prisoners? For every hour you delay, a hostage dies. I know better than to let you play your treacherous games."
"I do not have that authority."
Kusukabe leaned forward. "We will contact you in an hour."
"Wait!" Lelouch winced. He was coming on too desperate, but this could work in his favor. They knew nothing of his personality. His scant few public appearances weren't enough for them to make any substantial assessment of his character. "Right now, Japanese resistance groups aren't considered a threat—"
"You are saying we are weak, brat? That we cannot make the Empire bleed!"
"No! But if this ends as a blood bath, then Britannia will retaliate. The Blood of the Samurai, the JLF, and every other group will be marked for extermination. The Japanese don't need—"
"Oh. Because you know what they need? Spare me your mock pity. Japan is strong. We will weather the coming storm."
"People will die."
"And they should be proud that they do so for their nation."
Lelouch pushed down the growl in his throat. The asinine fool! "A nation, which they already died for en-masse! Or have you forgotten the invasion? Let me help you. Please. You have a prince bothering to entertain your demands. That is more than any terrorist group has ever achieved."
"None ever took so many persons-of-interest hostage." Kusukabe bared his teeth, his tongue scraping over the front. "Besides, you are a boy. Hardly anyone of note."
"Have you forgotten The Count? Or have you never heard of her because any matter outside of Japan ceases to matter to you? She eradicated an entire town, blew up noble mansions, and killed hundreds of nobles. Do you know what it got her? A fiery death with none of her demands met. Don't delude yourself. Compared to her, you've accomplished nothing."
"Why do you even care? Unless you were poisoning the mind of the heir of Japan, you never involved yourself."
"I'm no longer a child."
"I will give you another hour if you answer truthfully."
Finally. An hour. Not enough, but an hour more for Stadtfeld to make contact, for Roy to plan, for the hostages to live.
But the truth? He couldn't say Nunnally or Euphie was there. Yet, if Lelouch lied, and Kusukabe discovered them afterwards? Heads would roll.
He stuck with the truth—a partial truth. "Kaguya—I mean, Sumeragi is there."
An eerie blankness crossed Kusukabe's face, and his eyes flicked to someone off screen. The silence stretched between them, and the audio cut. How had they not known? Lelouch swore softly to himself, terrified that he inadvertently put her in more danger. Would they see her as a traitor?
Kusukabe snapped to one of his accomplices. A new, unfamiliar figure moved into the frame, and Lelouch committed them to memory. For all that he spoke of peace, he would let none of them leave alive. Chains weren't enough, not when they could blather about his involvement to overly curious nobles.
"She betrayed Japan," Kusukabe said, upon reconnecting.
"She is innocent," Lelouch hissed. "Just like every other civilian there. How many of them were involved in the invasion of Japan?"
A challenging gleam in his eye, Kusukabe switched to Japanese. "So you would defend one of ours?"
Another concession. A meaningless one that Lelouch was all too happy to give. He responded in kind. "Of course. Even if Britannians insist on pointlessly alienating the Japanese and various other Numbers, it doesn't change that you are all part of the Empire and are therefore worthy of defense."
Kusukabe scoffed. "We are not part of the Empire."
"That you believe so is a failure of Britannia's."
"A political answer. It's easy to spout nice words while you're safely watching millions starve beneath you. Do you have anything else to offer besides pretty words?"
"Kaguya has worked tirelessly to implement policies that would help the Japanese. I do what I can to help her and the Numbers in general."
"Meaningless words again."
"The days when swinging a sword accomplished anything of note are long past."
"Would you exchange yourself for the hostages?" Kusukabe asked, undeterred.
"What?"
"A prince has to be worth a few thousand."
Memories of his captivity froze him in his seat. They wouldn't be anywhere near as kind. Kusukabe lacked the creativity; he would resort to the brutal techniques of the past. They'd parade his broken body about. He would be an equally worthless hostage; his parents wouldn't cave to their demands.
But to save Nunnally? "I would."
Kusukabe frowned. "I imagine your mother wouldn't be as agreeable."
"No." Lelouch swallowed. "She would probably raze Japan to the ground."
"Keep yourself well, Your Highness. We have no desire to invite your mother back to Japan." Grimacing, Kusukabe leaned back. "I never did see what the others saw in you. They argued on your behalf on multiple occasions. I always thought we should spare ourself the trouble and kill you. After the bloody occupation of Tokyo, it was clear that the Prime Minister had been misguided."
"Thank you for not ransoming, torturing, or killing me," Lelouch said dryly.
"I do not like you. Yet, none of your siblings would have negotiated with the Europeans in French, and Britannia acknowledges them as an independent nation. Three million pounds wired to us. That should be in your personal means."
Lelouch frowned. His newfound monetary assets weren't public knowledge. Kaguya knew, but he doubted she would be connected to The Blood of the Samurai. Was one of her servants then reporting to them?
"You'll release the women and children?"
"In eight hours. It wouldn't look good for us to capitulate immediately. If you don't transfer the funds in the next ten minutes, a hostage dies. And then another ten minutes after and so on. Consider it a gesture of good faith from yourself."
Kawaguchi Hotel, Area Eleven
Kallen stepped inside the hotel under armed guard, but they all acted like Art said they would. They patted her down for wires and when they found nothing, they searched again. The lobby was empty as the analysts had expected. That was good. They could safely enter here.
Speaking rapid Japanese, an elderly man approached. "So you were the one who heard our cry for rebellion?"
She bowed in the traditional style, mindful that no Britannian mannerism crept in. "Thank you for having me."
Then, she held the bow and awaited judgment.
"You don't look Japanese," the man accused. "You speak with an accent."
"My apologies. I became an Honorary Britannian at my father's urging. We are not allowed to speak our illustrious language, but when I heard your proclamation, I realized my loyalty to my country should come before my father."
"So your father betrayed Japan."
"He is a troubled man doing what is necessary to keep our family alive."
"But you're disgusted," the man noted. Shit. "Good. You're quite young. The folly of youth may be forgiven, especially when misled by treacherous elders. So tell us, what are the Britannians saying?"
"They don't believe you can win," she answered honestly.
"And why is that?"
"They have a Knight of the Round. Gottwald doesn't deem the hostages important enough to bargain for."
"I told Kusukabe they were more trouble than they were worth," the man spat. Around them, other men nodded in agreement. Her eyes widened as she noticed the fleck of blood on their gear. "We already lost more men than we should have. Should just kill them."
No!
"You should be pleased about putting down these honorless scum. They're worse than trash."
"I lied," she blurted out. Weapons rose, pointing at her threateningly. "When my father ordered me to go, I thought about disobeying, but then I met Sumeragi-san. She told me I should lay in wait and listen. She's here."
"The JLF girl?" he asked, stroking his short beard. "Let's see what she says. Take her up."
Rough hands pushed her forward, into the elevator. Someone had marked various floor numbers with large crosses. At the fifteenth floor, unmarked, they stepped out. The room was packed to the brim with various hostages. They sat on the ground, bandanas keeping them silent, while zip ties secured their hands behind their back. Only two men guarded the room.
As Kallen's guards pushed her forward, the hostages shrunk back. They expected violence from their captors.
They exited the foyer into a long corridor with numbered hotel rooms. At the fifth door, they unlocked it, and Kaguya looked up in surprise from her position on the bed. Her mask let nothing slip.
The grunt pushed her into the room. "The brat says she knows you."
"I know many people," Kaguya said peacefully. "I don't recognize her from the hostages. Or was she one of the ones who escaped?"
He huffed. "No. We caught them. She came here to defect."
"That's mighty risky." Inspecting her fingernails, Kaguya fell backwards onto her bed. "This plan of yours is rather shortsighted. You have nowhere to run. I would've imagined that as former JLF members, you'd be more competent and not have barely enough men to prevent a riot. I saw the hostage you killed. He wouldn't stop screaming. Hardly a negotiation tactic, but a desperate attempt to maintain control."
Kallen could kiss Kaguya for managing to slip so many operational details into her insult. This was exactly what they needed before they could act. Now, Kallen needed to escape from here alive.
"Does she work for you?" the grunt asked.
"I don't know. Many do. Unfortunately, these accommodations of yours leave much to be desired, and it has such a negative impact on my memory. I would like my maid back since you found her."
"No. We did not find that demon," the grunt snapped. "Just answer the goddamn questions!"
"You're such a brute, not subtle at all. It's a sad day when Prince Clovis is more adept at tea ceremonies than you."
"Will you shut up about the tea! We don't have any."
"Of course you do. You are merely hoarding it all to yourself and taunting us with those appetizing aromas."
"You bitch!"
"Calm yourself," the old man from before interrupted. He pushed past them and entered the room, surveying it with distaste. "Kusukabe says to treat you well, but you tire the patience of my men. Now, if you will not answer us on the whereabouts of your cousin, will you at least confirm whether this woman works for you?"
"Like I said, I don't know. Why would an Honorary Britannian concern themselves over some foolish child?"
"Cut the crap. I was there when they read your reports. The JLF is hiding him, keeping him from his duty and destiny. Where is he?"
"Who?" Kallen asked quietly. "We're all Japanese. It makes no sense for us to fight."
"Suzaku Kururugi. The son of the late Prime Minister. Through his mother's line, he has a blood tie to the Imperial Throne." The old man swung his hand towards Kaguya. "But she, among others in the JLF, are so insistent about baring their stomach to appease the Brit monkeys. They keep him hidden, when we could raise the banners in his name and create a new Empire of Japan. Britannia's conquest freed us from the shackles of European oppression. We fell because we neglected the gods. It is time to make it right."
"Chiba?" Kallen whispered. He had claimed to be close to Kaguya. If he was the Kururugi heir, no wonder Kaguya asked her to educate him.
But how did Lamperouge fit in? He knew them both, and he was clearly aware of Chiba—Kururugi's significance from how much he stressed keeping quiet about his existence.
The old man turned to her. "You know something?"
"Don't—" Kaguya hissed.
Kallen lowered her head. "Not much I'm afraid. He worked as a servant for the Stadtfelds before leaving one night. My friend says Lady Stadtfeld threw quite a fit."
"A servant?" The man spun around, an accusing finger pointed at Kaguya. "You made the heir of Japan a servant to Britannians? Have you no shame?"
"No." She yawned. "Are we done now? The girl does work for me, but I would prefer it if you gave me the professional courtesy of not blowing my agent's cover. She is rather well placed. As for you, my agent, don't do something this asinine again."
"Maybe she has more honor than you," the old man snarked. "Although what can I expect from the weaker sex such as yourself. You're easily waylaid, like by your crush."
"Yet my somber heart leaves those poor suitors behind. What can I expect from the man who denies fate and fruitlessly toils against the sea? Now, unless you have some tea, I would like to be left alone. I don't have the information you seek. The last I heard, my cousin disappeared from the Stadtfelds. Maybe the moon called him?"
Growling, the old man grabbed Kallen behind the shoulder and pushed her into the corridor. The grunt slammed the door shut.
"I hate her." The old man shook his head. "I don't have time for her stupid womanly games. She never gives a straight answer. But you... You understand your place. Don't let your mistress corrupt you."
"Of course not," Kallen promised, using the most polite wording.
Satisfied, he led her back to the elevator. As they passed by the hostages, Kallen again scanned for Nunnally. "Are these all of them?"
"No," he answered gruffly. "The hotel was packed. We split them into groups. Small enough that they can't cause too much trouble, but large enough that we can watch them."
Good. Nunnally had to be elsewhere.
"Excuse me," Kallen said as they entered the elevator. "We have spent much time negotiating in the view of the Britannians. I fear they will be suspicious if I return empty handed. I already took great risks to ensure I would be sent along."
"You're asking for us to release a hostage as a gesture of goodwill?"
"Yes... and if I can use the bathroom." Kallen blushed. "You are such a gentleman, and I must apologize for my unseemliness. Unfortunately, it is that time when the moon aligns, and I will face hours of questioning upon my return—"
He shuddered and, on the ground floor, immediately pushed her to the public bathroom. "Women. I will select an appropriate hostage to release."
Inside the bathroom stall, Kallen listened intently for the fading footsteps of the soldiers and relaxed. She turned on the water and inspected the ventilation shaft. Her fingers pried off the grate and carefully rested it against the wall. Face burning, she slipped out of her uniform and pulled it inside out. There, carefully sewn in hidden pockets were filled with vacuum sealed powders. Prying loose the soles on her boot, she pulled out the small detonators and wire.
"That is an interesting plan."
Kallen jumped, slapping her hand over her mouth to cover her shriek. "Sayoko," she said, once her heart settled back into place. "Why are you—"
"They have gas masks," Sayoko warned. "I managed to escape at the beginning of the attack, but they quickly overwhelmed the security forces here. Kaguya-sama ordered me not to reveal the full extent of my skills unless the situation turned dire. Judging from these, Britannia intends to rescue the hostages?"
"Yes," Kallen answered. She paused. "It's Zero."
"You've become quite the asset then. He is a ghost. We have a few minutes before the guards return. Tell me about him while getting dressed. I'll set the charges such that they are more effective."
"He's—" It would be so easy to state his civilian name. An assassin would have little difficulty tracking him down and finally ending the threat once and for all. Except Nunnally would be devastated. The entire division would crumble, once again reduced to cannon fodder. The glimpse of reforms she saw in Lamperouge's wake would die with him. "I couldn't kill him... I had the perfect opportunity."
"Taking a life is difficult. One needs a focused mind."
"I can't— I'm sorry. Ask me anything, but that. He doesn't deserve to die."
"I'll inform Kaguya-sama of the development. Even she does not have the authority to order an assasination of such a high ranking member in Britannia. You won't be asked to take out such a task."
"Thank you," Kallen whispered, but the woman was already gone.
The door banged open, and Kallen turned off the water, facing them with a calm which surprised herself. The old man met her in the entryway. Behind him were numerous young Britannian children, each clutching a teddy bear from the giftshop.
"They distract the men," the old man explained. "Just get them out of here."
Lake Kawaguchi, Area Eleven
For a moment, pure outrage flashed across Kusukabe's face as a soldier interrupted him and whispered something into his ears. His hateful eyes bored into Lelouch, and the feed cut.
Lelouch leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to exhale in relief. It was done. Nobody had barged in on him to tell him the hostages were dead. By cutting the feed, Kusukabe admitted defeat.
And all without Nunnally and Euphie being recognized and dragged in as hostages to be used against him. It was a miracle.
Yet a life had been cut short because of Lelouch's arrogance, because he had hesitated. Three million. A man died for it. A handful of children were saved by it.
He should've prostrated himself before Kusukabe. Answered more questions on Britannian intelligence instead of skirting around sensitive information. If he had been more humble, better, then all the women would've been released.
If anything happened to Nunnally, the student council...the other hostages, it would be his fault.
Then his two minutes of respite were over, and he was pulling off his shirt to slip into a generic uniform for the field. Only a dark beige velcro path on the front indicated his rank. One could never be too careful with snipers, or reporters.
"Lelouch!" Roy shouted eagerly, pointing at the hotel poking out of the distant fog. The glimmering yellow lights set it apart from the backdrop of mountains. Of greater interest was the green halo in the air darting about. "We couldn't have done it without Gino."
"And nobody will know how we did it. Only that Britannia has a new secret weapon." Lelouch grinned at the second victory loop de loop. "He's not watching his run time. They last ten minutes max."
"He said fifteen."
"If you're my mother. It's impressive though. She's been complaining about them for ages. Most pilots apparently crash. What about Stadtfeld?"
"She broke through the supply tunnel. The engineers are frothing at the numbers she managed to pull. You could say she was quite motivated."
"Or her training with Gino is paying off." Lelouch relaxed as various boats with the hostages emerged from the fog. "And her espionage?"
"Art was apparently so embarrassed on her behalf that he helped her of his own accord. I think you're going to have to give up on that dream."
"A shame."
"Once we wrap up here, we should head to the border of Shinjuku."
"Did something happen?"
"Colonel Felzing says he has it under control. Apparently, some Britannians got it into their heads to deliver some vigilante justice."
"I had been hoping to loosen the restrictions." Lelouch rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn. "Let's give them a few days to cool off. Advise only the more Brit-looking patrol to conduct arrests."
Walking ahead, Roy nodded. "Can't fight an entire city."
Together, they made their way to the docks. Gino had the good sense to crashland far from any civilians, while Kallen parked the experimental Horus in the road where everyone could see. The rescued hostages cheered as she opened the cockpit and stepped into the view of the floodlights.
Her red hair engulfed her head like a lion mane, and she futilely tried to tame it back down to more manageable chunks as she approached.
"No saluting here," Lelouch said, seeing her hand rise. "The fight isn't over until we've accounted for everyone and have cleared the area."
"Yes, sir." She grinned. "I'm glad they're safe."
"Me too." The fifth ship emptied, yet still no sign of Nunnally or the student council.
Roy yawned and accepted two cups of coffee from a passing soldier. Silently, he passed one to Kallen. "What she may lack in acting capabilities, she more than made up for by memorizing the important details. Sumeragi was apparently a rather annoying hostage."
Lelouch almost pitied them. "Make sure the prisoners are kept seperate. I don't want them collaborating on their stories. I still have absolutely no idea how they got in."
Kallen shifted. "Sir?"
"Yes?"
"Sumeragi mentioned tea multiple times? She said they smelled of it."
"Make sure Art debriefs her," Lelouch ordered. She would have more insight. Why hadn't the Blood of the Samurai known of her presence with all the other meticulous research they must have done? It was not like her attendance was unscheduled.
"Sir?" Kallen interrupted. "Can I speak to you for a moment alone?"
"I trust my second in command."
"Please?"
Lelouch sighed and nodded to Roy before taking a few steps away, far enough for some privacy, close enough to shout for help. "This better be important."
"It's about Chiba—"
He froze. "I told you not to speak—"
"I know. That's why I'm telling you this. Chiba, or Suzaku Kururugi. The terrorists were interrogating Sumeragi on her cousin's whereabouts. I thought you should know. They think he should be the Emperor of Japan." Her forehead scrunched. "I don't really get it? Kururugi was only the Prime Minister. My mom said he was going to lose the election. A lot of people didn't like him."
"Did she say where he was? Do you know?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Let's keep this quiet for now. As long as they don't find him, it's nothing to be worried about."
Lelouch sighed. Had he made the right decision in letting Suzaku go? If he had brought him back to court, surely he could've leveraged his power or used the favor from his father to protect him. Suzaku would be safe now, not who knows where in the middle of a destroyed ghetto with nowhere to run.
He needed to relax the restrictions. If only to give Suzaku the opportunity to escape across the border. He would be smart enough to do that, right?
"You fuckers!" screeched an unfamiliar voice, and Lelouch groaned at the familiar sight of a camera being ripped away. How the hell had a reporter come this far? "I know you have her! Who else would've done it, huh? I will not calm down! You've been feeding us the exact same bullshit for the last fifteen hours. I'm sick and tired of this. I want a list of everyone you've detained."
They were coming closer now, and the woman continued to argue. He hated reporters.
"You did well, Kallen." He rested an encouraging hand on her shoulder. "If you're comfortable, you can join Gottwald tomorrow to claim credit for your vital role. It will be a good opportunity for you and your family."
Hesitation clouded her features, and he wondered what she was thinking. She was at times quite an excellent liar, but it seemed more often than not to require a gun pointed at her head. Still, pushing her to that of an extreme each time wasn't ideal for a spy.
Perhaps the servants his father forced him to employ would be more suited to that arena. Without a knight as an easy target, the nobles' attention would shift to them. After all, who knew more than the servant who dressed their master each morning? It was an avenue to consider.
"I'll do it," Kallen said finally. Her smile was almost warm now, lacking the edge of hatred that had always followed her before. "At least it may stop my mother from sending me profiles on prospective partners."
"No, I don't think it will help on that end," Lelouch said, grinning. "It will do quite the opposite, but you can always decline to focus more on service. No Brit would begrudge you for it."
Her face soured, and he laughed.
"Lelouch?" asked the reporter incredulously.
Instinctively, he turned. His mouth dried. "Gwen?"
"What are you doing here? You've grown so tall..."
At least it wasn't someone who knew him as a prince and blurted out his identity for the entire division to hear.
"Why is she being detained?" Lelouch asked.
"We caught her trying to sneak in, sir. Again. She keeps insisting on seeing her sister."
"Sir?" Gwen mouthed the word again before her face turned frigid. She sneered at the soldier. "Keep your filthy hands off me. I am using my license to request the current list of detainees. Which you again have failed to procure. So I must assume you're illegally arresting people—"
"It's classified," Lelouch interrupted coldly. "You may wait for the press release in the morning, like everyone else. I have no idea why you've come to Japan, but if you continue this, you may explain yourself to Lord Ashford."
"Oh fuck you, Lelouch. My sister is missing! I'm not going to be tossed aside while the army tramples on people's liberties. The Area is not at war. Tokyo is not under siege. There is no emergency. This military occupation is illegal, and the army has been arresting anyone who has been voicing this inconvenient fact. So where the fuck is my sister!"
Lelouch swallowed. "The Ashford student council was among the hostages. I am sure that if you wait, you will hear from her after she's been processed."
"But she wasn't there!"
A tap on his shoulder pulled him aside, and Art handed him a quick brief. "We have a problem. Your sister isn't among the hostages."
"That's not possible. She checked-in." Unless she had been killed, a traitorous voice whispered.
"She did, and she's not the only one missing. Milly Ashford, Euphemia, and the other members of the student council remain unaccounted for as well... Along with Kusukabe."
"He couldn't have left. There was no way for him to escape."
"We searched the building from top to bottom, twice. They're gone. We also have a lot of blood but no bodies. I'm ordering a dive team to check the water."
A roar in his ears, Lelouch dragged Gwen to the side by her arm, not caring that he was hurting her.
"You're the one in charge." Gwen's eyes widened, and her face grew pale. "What happened to you? How could you?"
"My sister is missing. Yours almost never leaves her side. And now you're here, looking for her before anyone even knows she's missing. So I think you are going to tell me exactly what the press thinks they're allowed to do with my division and anything else of potential interest."
Worldbuilding Thoughts:
- I found an interesting paper from 1987 which shows that terrorists in hostage taking completed their mission 87% of the time, but only in 27% of cases some of their demands were met as well. Interestingly, killing hostages made it very unlikely that they would succeed, taking more hostages slightly increased the chance of success, and lastly, kidnapping, not barricading, was apparently the most successful hostage taking strategy. This paper was particularly focused on the US which means it's not entirely applicable as Britannia seems to disregard civilian casualties generally.
- The US Department of Justice has an entire scanned book on hostage negotiations by Miller (1980) which you can download. One important point is that terrorist tactics against colonial powers rely on the media to spread the opinion that holding onto the territory will be more costly than whatever can be extracted from it. Domestic terrorism meanwhile uses media to spread a philosophy with the act of violence drawing attention to their beliefs. Whether this is true and tactically sound is immaterial, as long as the terrorist believes it to work.
- Shirley was surprisingly competent with a gun in the show.
Author's Note:
A 12k chapter update with a cliffhanger for you. The student council's luck finally ran out.
Some astute readers noticed the travel time between Shinjuku and Lake Kawaguchi. They're correct. I made a mistake because I didn't plug it into google maps. My bad.
I feel slightly bad about leaving you with two weeks to speculate on what happened...
In other news, I posted an entirely self-indulgent Harry Potter crossover, and I'm hoping to post something on Valentine's Day.
Thank you Dark, Jarod, and Nektry for your beta work. :)
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / uSBegVj