Bad news: my blasted laptop died again.
Good news: I'm able to borrow one to finish this up.
Best news: I took the advice of one of our dear readers and backed up the remainder of the story to Google Drive. Granted, by remainder I mean this chapter, but still!
Anyway, for anyone who hasn't seen it, I fully recommend Toy Story 4. Great movie. Also, Deutschland 83. An excellent espionage thriller you can watch on HULU. Just be prepared to read.
Anyway, without further ado, let's set about making a finale more wretched than Game of Thrones!
I do not own Code Geass.
…..
Apartment of the Ambassador to China, Beijing, Chinese Federation, 2017
Kaguya took a long, slow sip from her tea cup. She savored the bitter taste of the freshly brewed tea, closing her eyes as she delicately swallowed. With a satisfied hum, she set the cup down on the ornate table before her. She gave no indication that she was actively scanning the room for escape routes.
There was a half dozen guards clad in the crimson armor of the Federation Palace Guard, armed with spears and swords. Though the weapons were ceremonial in nature, she had no doubt they could slash her with ease. They had stormed into her chambers just ten minutes before she was due to attend Court, only informing her that she was being placed under house arrest, and ignoring her entreaties for information.
In the sleepless hours that had passed, the torrential rains bombarding the Forbidden City had subsided into dark gray clouds that promised the worst had yet to come.
What is going on? she wondered. Beneath the table, her fist quivered. If someone would just tell me something. She ground her teeth. I hate this uncertainty!
As if in response, the door to her chambers opened, and in stepped a Chinese man wearing white ceremonial robes. "Announcing his most Honored Excellency," the herald declared, "Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Japan, Atsuhi Sawasaki."
Kaguya hid her surprise. Sawisaki? She maintained her placid expression.
A moment later, Sawisaki himself entered, wearing a red tailored business suit and shiny black shoes. His impeccable clothing belied his haggard appearance; his face was chalky, his smooth coiffed hair had a greasy sheen, and there was a haunting pain in his eyes.
"Lady Sumeragi," he croaked, his voice rough. He bowed. "It is an honor to finally speak with you."
Kaguya inclined her own head. "The honor is all mine," she replied. "Please, join me." She shifted her head to her maids. "Attend to the Prime Minister."
They stepped forward quickly, untying Sawisaki's shoes. He slipped them off easily, revealing silky black socks that had trouble maintaining traction on the smooth floor. He settled down across from her, grimacing as his knees came into contact with the mat.
Seeing his discomfort, Kaguya asked him, "Are you well, Prime Minister?"
He dismissed her concern with a wave. "Simply my arthritis flaring up. Pay it no mind."
Kaguya nodded. "Very well." She gestured to the tea. "May I offer you some refreshments?'
"Yes, please."
"Excellent. Mei?" Kaguya asked, turning her head to her maid without taking her eyes off of Sawisaki. "Would you brew some fresh tea for Prime Minister Sawisaki?"
"Make that sake," Sawisaki interjected.
It's a little early for sake, isn't it? "Sake, then," she corrected. What has you rattled this badly?
Mei appeared a minute later bearing a tray holding a sake bottle and saucer. She kneeled and placed them on the table one at a time, then proceeded to pour his drink.
"I must say," Kaguya said, "I'm pleased to finally be able to host you, Prime Minister. "It has been greatly disappointing to have been unable to meet you before now."
"Unfortunately, our previous circumstances were not conducive to a meeting." He finished the sake in three big swallows before gesturing to Mei to pour him more.
My, you're certainly getting into you cups, Kaguya observed. "Then to what do I owe the honor?"
He paused as he lifted his saucer. She could almost see the gears turning in his head. He took a careful breath, threw back the shot, and said, "General Katase is dead."
Kaguya blinked. "I beg your pardon?" She shook her head. " Could you repeat that?"
He sighed. "Katase is dead," he obliged. His eyes bored into the table. "As is High Eunuch Lord Gao Hai, and, if the estimates are correct, close to sixty thousand men."
Kaguya clenched her kimono beneath the table. "Much appears to have transpired since I was locked in my chambers," she said. "Would you care to explain to me just what is going on?"
Sawisaki tapped his finger on the table. His face was hard as stone. "We know that you were planning a coup, My Lady."
A burning pit opened up in Kaguya's belly. "I don't know what you're-"
"Don't bother trying to deny it," Sawisaki cut her off. "We know who the plotters are. We know that the effective time frame was within three months. We know the names of every civil servant, policeman, and soldier who was to be involved. They will be arrested soon, once this debacle is past us. The Empress has been humiliated before the entire Court. Your little insurrection is at an end."
Kaguya struggled to control her breathing. "Is the Tianzi safe?" she asked.
Sawisaki nodded. "She is being confined to her chambers, same as you. There are no plans to hurt her, nor you."
Either you're lying, or you're just plain stupid, Kaguya thought angrily. We're too dangerous to be left alive.
"What of General Xinke?" she asked aloud.
A small, nasty smirk curled over his face. "Who do you think gave us this information?" he asked.
That bastard! "Well," she said coldly, "that answers that." She took a sip of her tea. "So what happened to General Katase? And Lord Gao? And, for that matter, all those men?"
Sawisaki's expression turned sour. "Four days ago, Zero bombed a school in the Settlement-"
"That's a lie!" Kaguya said furiously. "Lord Zero would never target civilians! Do not insult my Lord in my presence again."
Sawisaki rolled his eyes. "The Sub-Viceroy of Area Eleven was attending a festival there," he informed her. "Given his penchant for ruthlessness, a few civilians would be a small price to pay to assassinate her. It falls perfectly in line with his bombing campaign."
"Has Lord Zero actually claimed responsibility?"
Sawisaki ground his teeth.
Kaguya smirked triumphantly. "He hasn't, has he?"
Sawisaki scowled. "What he has or has not done is irrelevant," he said. "Katase brought his forces into rebellion. The Federation Court wisely sent reinforcements under the command of Lord Gao. They liberated much of the north from Imperial control. However-"
Sawisaki stopped. He swallowed hard, rubbed his eyes. He refilled his saucer and drained it quickly. "However," he repeated, his voice thick, "resistance was stronger than anticipated. We're still trying to piece things together. Somehow, during the fighting, he and Lord Gao were killed."
Kaguya folded her hands in her lap. "I see," she said. Her expression was icy. "Was General Katase involved in my current predicament?"
"Not directly, no," Sawisaki answered. "But, he did guarantee your safety to," he narrowed his eyes, "Lord Kirihara."
Kaguya bit the inside of her cheek so hard, she tasted blood. "So Lord Kirihara was involved, too?"
"Yes."
A strong feeling of betrayal filled Kaguya's heart. "Is he dead now, too?" she asked. She wasn't sure how she wanted him to answer.
Sawisaki sighed. "We don't know," he admitted. "That's why I'm here, Lady Sumeragi. We need your help."
"Really now?" she asked. "I don't see why. You're doing such a splendid job so far."
He pressed his lips into a line. "Your sarcasm is not helpful."
Kaguya gave him an exaggerated gasp. "Sarcasm? Me? Perish the thought!"
He made to say something, but seemed to think better of it. "Lady Kaguya," he said, "we believe Zero has Lord Kirihara. He's taken Mount Fuji from Viceroy Cornelia, but his forces are diminished and scattered the length and breadth of Area Eleven. He won't be able to hold the mountain for long. We want you to negotiate with Zero for Lord Kirihara's safety."
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. Well, I am Lord Zero's ambassador. "And what, pray tell, are the Eunuchs willing to offer?"
Sawisaki looked like he had swallowed a bug. "Supreme Command of the Armies of Area Eleven," he replied. "And, full diplomatic recognition of his United States of Japan."
Not an Imperial title? My Lord, you disappoint me, Kaguya thought, restraining an impish smile. Lady C-Two and I will have to fix that.
She refocused her attention on Sawisaki. My, but you must be desperate, she considered. How much worse are things than you're telling me?
"I assume you get something out of this?" she suggested.
"Yes," he confirmed. "I've been promised the position of Prime Minister." He gave her a small, oily smirk. "Zero will understand the necessity of subordinating the military to the civilian leadership. I have no doubt he'll agree.
Liar, she accused. You can't control my beloved, and you know it. You'll turn on him the moment you get the chance.
"Very well," she said. "Establish an appointment, and I will persuade Lord Zero of the merits of your proposal."
Sawisaki smiled. "Perfect. I had faith that you would agree." He stood up. "If you will excuse me, I will return to the High Eunuchs and deliver your response." Her handmaidens returned and carefully put his shoes back on. He bowed and departed, swaying slightly on his feet.
She grabbed her tea cup and took a sip. Xingke… She took another sip, allowing the bitter taste to calm her temper. They must have threatened the Tianzi in some way to get you to turn. You would never do anything to harm her.
Sawisaki's smirk swam up before her mind's eye. Fool. Your idiotic, grasping schemes will not baffle Lord Zero. However, she took another sip of tea, he might play along in order to rescue me.
Lord Zero lifted her up into his strong arms. "I have come for you, My Lady Wife," he said in his deep, baritone voice. "Away from here, now!"
He snapped the reins on his white stallion, his sword flashing left and right as he lopped off the heads of the Eunuchs.
Kaguya blushed a vibrant red. Oh, my darling Zero! She clasped a hand to her chest. I cannot let you risk yourself for my sake! Her heart beat rapidly. Rest assured, you will not need to rescue me!
She raised her tea cup, hiding a vicious smirk behind it.
You made a mistake, you ball-less wonders. You never should have made her humiliation public.
There were forces within and without the capitol loyal to the Empress; forces Xingke knew nothing about; forces even the Tianzi was ignorant of.
Kaguya had been quite the busy bee.
Sawisaki...Eunuchs...Yes, even you, Lord Kirihara…
We will bury you.
…
In the Skies above Japan
"Avalon Base, this is Knight Leader, do you read me?"
"Knight Leader, this is Avalon Base. We read you loud and clear."
"We have accomplished preliminary reconnaissance. Now transmitting enemy unit positions and composition."
"Acknowledged, Knight Leader. Receiving them now. Have you encountered any resistance?"
"Negative. We didn't receive so much as a warning hail. The armistice is holding."
"Then their peace overtures were genuine. How amusing."
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"The Chinese appear to be operating under the assumption that the Empire will not strike back.
"We shall disabuse them of this assumption."
…..
Nagano, Area Eleven
"Care to explain to me why an Imperial fighter squadron is flying above us unmolested?" Lelouch asked crossly.
Kallen winced at his tone, amplified by the microphone in his mask.
They sat comfortably in a Chinese armored car across from General Zhen Yun, operations commander for the Federation Expeditionary Force South; with Lord Gao Hai's death, he was also now the overall commander of the entire invasion. Their vehicle was in the middle of a nine car convoy on its way to Utsunomiya, where Colonel Tohdoh's forces were encamped. Once they arrived, the plan was to relieve Tohdoh of his command and assume direct control over the north.
Kallen's appreciation for the blatant audacity was somewhat muted, however.
"An armistice has been declared by the High Eunuchs," Zhen Yun explained. His tone was a dull monotone, delivered without any inflection.
"An armistice?" Lelouch repeated. "Have the Britannians agreed to it?"
"They sent their agreement to the armistice shortly before you intercepted me. Thus far, the Empire has kept its word."
Lelouch shook his head. Frustration poured off him in waves. "Of course they have. They're getting free time to regroup and plan their counterattack. You've just given the Empire an intelligence goldmine," he grumbled. "What are your anti-air capabilities?"
"We have five surface-to-air missile platforms," the general replied. "However, only three of them are currently functioning. The other two were damaged when the coast artillery shelled our fleet."
"And your air force?"
"Down to 48 percent combat readiness. Of that, 35 percent are air superiority fighters. The rest are a mixture of light bombers and troop transports."
Lelouch huffed. "So, you sacrificed your air screen for a temporary advantage on the ground," he complained. "Where the Hell did you people get your commissions?"
Yun made to reply, but Lelouch cut him off. "Never mind. I assume the High Eunuchs wish to establish a peace settlement?" he asked.
"Yes," Yun confirmed.
"That just won't do. When I give the word, order a sustained artillery barrage on the outer perimeter of the Tokyo defense lines, duration to be set at three hours. Order the execution of all captured Britannian soldiers ranked lieutenant and above, except those identified as Black Knights. If you have any video recording devices, I want them used to photograph the executions. We'll make sure they're disseminated to the general public."
"Yes, My Lord."
Kallen shifted uncomfortably in her seat. So this is geass.
The Power of Kings; the absolute ability to control anyone's mind; the ability to force an ardent patriot to effectively betray his nation. A lot of things were beginning to make sense.
The consolidation of control over Mount Fuji had been short, but efficient. Lelouch had quickly gained the cooperation of the civilian workforce within the mining facilities, giving him a near limitless supply of Sakuradite with which to fuel his armies. A round table discussion was able to work out a clear, simple strategy to gain control over the incoming Chinese forces: fool the High Command of the Expeditionary Force into arranging a personal meeting with Zero, and usurp their command. Of course, it was a plan that the entire leadership of the Black Knights had balked at, and Leouch's staunch determination to go through with it caused an eruption.
Who are you? Why are you doing this? What the Hell makes you think you'll be able to convince the army to follow you?
Lelouch, in the end, had had no choice. Kallen trusted him, but she seemed to be the only one. He had to answer their questions or risk a second mutiny. The answers were shocking, and, frankly, disturbing.
An exiled prince. A dead mother and a crippled sister. An almost pathological hatred for his father and the Empire that he ruled. A power beyond the kin of men, capable of rewriting mankind itself.
"Is something the matter, Kallen?" Lelouch asked her, jolting her out of her thoughts.
"No, nothing," she denied. She filed away her own private discomfort in her mind. "Do you think the Chinese will sell us out?"
"The Eunuchs would sell their own mothers if it would save their necks," Lelouch replied scornfully. "The real question is whether or not the Britannians will let them."
"What do you mean?" Kallen asked.
"If there was a treaty, it will only be a temporary reprieve," he explained. "The Empire will be losing a lot of prestige, which will embolden their enemies. The bulk of the Imperial military is rediscovering the joys of trench warfare in Spain and southern Italy, so they may sign a treaty in the short-term to give themselves wiggle room in Europe." He grunted. "Of course," he went on, "this is assuming they don't call up the strategic reserves, which I can't see them not doing at this juncture." He snorted angrily. "That's why I'm not going to give peace a chance. The Eunuchs and the Empire can bleed each other dry."
He turned back to General Yun. "What's the current status of the navy?" he asked.
"Three carrier groups were used to ferry troops and materiel to Area Eleven," Yun answered. "We used hundreds of older model battleships and modern destroyers to shell the coast, and hundreds of barges to offload troops onto the beaches."
"And what are their current capabilities?"
"Two aircraft carriers were moderately damaged in the coastal fighting, but they are still fully operational. Half of our destroyers and cruisers were put out of commission by coastal batteries."
Lelouch planted his face in his hand. "It's as if you were trying to lose," he muttered just loud enough for Kallen to hear. "No matter. Have them maneuver around the island so they can engage the Imperial fleet currently camped in Tokyo Bay." He sighed. "I doubt you'll win, but you can at least do some damage before the full Pacific Fleet arrives."
"Yes, My Lord."
Lelouch sank back in his seat, sagging wearily against the door.
"You alright?" Kallen asked him.
He nodded tiredly. "I'll be glad when I can sleep," he admitted. "It's been a while since I pulled an all nighter." He brought his hand up to his mask's chin. "Compound that with the utter disaster we're in."
"If there's anyone who can pull this off, it's you," she said, smiling reassuringly. She reached out to him, entwining their fingers together. He turned his attention fully to her, and she found herself blushing.
She was still wearing her flight suit, and she could feel his eyes roaming over her body. Her skintight suit hugged every curve and contour of her body, from the flair of her wide hips, to the round fullness of her breasts. She had considered pulling down the zipper to expose the swell of her cleavage, but had ultimately decided against it when she sat down across from the vehicle's other occupant. The deadness of his red-hazed eyes frightened her.
No, no I don't want to think about that.
"Kallen," Lelouch said warningly.
"Right. Sorry. Not in public, I get it," she replied, but she didn't pull away and neither did he.
"No, that's not it," he rejected.
Kallen cocked an eyebrow. "Then, what is it?" she asked. She ran her thumb over the back of his fingers.
"It's...well.." Lelouch's voice was strangled and trailed off as she brought his hand over to rest on her thigh. His hand squeezed her, to her delight.
Her heart was beating far too quickly. I wish we had the opportunity to do more than this, she thought wistfully.
For the better part of twenty minutes they had been stuck in the cockpit of the Gawain, kissing and groping one another. Their attempts to do anything more were fumbling and futile within the small box they found themselves trapped, their hands as dexterous as toddlers attempting to dress themselves for the first time.
Lelouch attempted to put some distance between the two afterward, but her status as his bodyguard doomed his efforts, and Kallen couldn't seem to keep her hands off of him. Months of bottled up tension had poured into the open, uncorked by the exhilaration of survival against overwhelming odds. She wanted so much more.
I'll have to wait, she knew. Until this crisis is averted. But…
She smiled as she watched him slowly relax, his hand still squeezing her leg.
If I can help him, even if it's just a little bit, that'll be enough.
Even so, she had a hard time ignoring the red haze of General Yun's eyes.
…..
Kumagaya, Saitama Province, Area Eleven
"Cornelia li Britannia is dead!" Zero declared over the crackling radio. "Her armies are defeated! I, Zero, am now the undisputed master of Mount Fuji. On this ground, consecrated by the blood of tyrants and patriots, I do hereby ordain and establish the formation of the United States of Japan! A free and independent nation, unbound from the chains of slavery.
"Britannians! Your armies are defeated! Your garrisons are overwhelmed! Leave this place! Evacuate while you still can! For any Britannian that chooses to stay behind, know this: you will live under my rule! You will obey my law! A law that requires you to practice justice! If you cannot abide by these terms, then leave, and never return!"
Tears stung at Nonette's eyes. "Goddammit, Nellie," she whispered. "Why'd you have to go off and get yourself killed?"
She squeezed the steering wheel tightly, gnashing her teeth against the pain. It was the third time she had heard the speech, an exercise in pre-recorded demagoguery. She didn't want to believe what he was saying, but Zero wouldn't have announced something so easily disproved if he didn't have proof.
The engine on her car shuddered. Nonette looked down at the fuel gauge, biting her lip as the ticker neared empty. The car was an open-roofed jeep variant that she commandeered from a couple of Chinese soldiers at the business end of her gun. It was also a piece of junk; it barely went 110 kmph, and the engine clearly hadn't been well maintained. She would be lucky if she made it to the outskirts before it broke down.
"My damn Knightmare would have to shut down twenty miles from the Settlement," she grumbled. "Well, at least the Elevens won't get anything useful out of it."
Standard Imperial doctrine was that in the event of a forced abandonment, the computer systems were to be wiped, the interior itself slagged. All of her combat data, not to mention her custom leather seat, burned away in the gray dawn hours.
Her walkie crackled on the seat next to her.
"This is Knight Leader. Dame Enneagram, do you copy? This is Knight Leader. Dame Enneagram, do you copy? Damn it, Etta, answer me!"
Nonette recognized that voice. She snatched up the walkie. "Is that you, Gino?" she asked.
"Nonette! Hot damn!" Gino whooped. "Transmit me your coordinates. I'll come grab you."
"Right."
Nonette pulled over to the side of the road, and pulled out a map from the glove compartment. She quickly figured out where she was and rattled off her location. A few minutes later, she saw the dark dot of an airplane slowly growing larger. It landed about a hundred yards away, touching down easily on the asphalt between the brown and gray weeds that teemed either side of the road. A moment later, the canopy opened, revealing a young man in a gray flight suit who quickly doffed his helmet to jog over to her.
Nonette climbed out of the jeep.
"Etta!" Gino cried out.
Nonette smiled weakly. "I could kiss you right now, Sir Weinberg," she told him. He caught her up in a tight hug. She held onto him tightly, elated by the presence of a friend.
Gino pulled away from her. "We can save that for later," he replied, a tight smile on his face. "For now, let's get you home."
They ran back to the plane, a two-seat fighter-bomber with full compliment. She pulled on a flight helmet and oxygen mask while he climbed in, securing her straps just as the canopy closed over them.
"We're taking off and moving fast," he told her as he hurriedly performed a pre-flight check. "Prince Schneizel wants to see you."
Nonette cocked an eyebrow. "The Prime Minister is here?" she asked him.
"Yep," Gino confirmed. "The Pacific Fleet out of Honolulu is just a day-and-a-half behind us, too. Plus, roughly around four hundred aircraft."
Nonette's eyes widened. "That's a lot of material and personnel," she observed. "What have I missed?"
"The Dragon has been raised," he told her grimly. "His Majesty's patience has run out. The Tokyo Settlement will be receiving evacuation orders any minute now." He shivered. "Things are about to get really ugly."
A heavy weight settled on Nonette's chest. "So, those bombs you have equipped?" she asked fearfully.
"Yeah. Napalm."
…..
Imperial Defensive Line, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven
Suzaku took a long drag off the cigarette in his mouth. He sat on top of a pile of concrete rubble, staring out at the pockmarked landscape before him. Soldiers rifled through the bodies of the dead, picking them clean of ammunition, ordinance, food, and just about anything else they could find. The smell of human feces suffused the air; blood red water ran in rivers into the city's blown up sewage pipes.
Suzaku exhaled, a cloud of smoke billowing out into the early morning hours. It was the third one he'd had in the past two hours, and the first one he hadn't choked on when he inhaled. He had a box of them sitting on the rubble next to him, a gift from Sergeant Tompkins for a job well done.
Which job was that? he wondered.
After the enemy leadership was neutralized, the Marquis ordered Suzaku to eliminate as much of the leaderless rebels and Chinese as he could. The fires from their lines had yet to stop burning.
The scenery around him looked gray, lifeless, as though all the color in the world had been sucked out. Thick black clouds hung in the sky, threatening even more storms.
"Suzaku!" He turned his head to see Cecile approaching, a happy smile on her face. She must have been off duty because her uniform coat lay across her arm and her blouse had been loosened at the top. There were deep shadows beneath her eyes that bespoke her lack of sleep.
Suzaku suspected he looked even worse.
She handed him a cup of coffee, which he took gratefully, and sat down next to him. "I have good news," she told him. "Elements of the Pacific Fleet are just offshore, and the main fleet should be here soon."
Suzaku nodded absently. "Good," was all he said. He took a sip, barely noticing the heat of the scalding black coffee. "Have you heard anything about my friends?" he asked her hopefully.
"Only a little," she answered. "I know for a fact that a young redhead was medevaced, but for all I know, the rest of them are still here."
Suzaku sighed. Guys, I hope you're all safe.
He went to take another drag off his cigarette, but Cecile plucked the cigarette from his hand. "What a filthy habit," she said disgustedly. She tossed it into a red puddle where it quickly sizzled out.
She held out her hand and Suzaku handed her the rest, not saying a word as she tossed the rest of them after it. He could get more from Tompkins later. Or Peterson.
No, not Peterson, Suzaku remembered. They're still finding pieces of him.
Cecile brought his hand into hers, gently rubbing it with her thumb. "Are you alright, Suzaku?" she asked him, her tone colored by concern. "I heard what happened, what you…what you were forced to do."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
No. "Yes." He thought for a moment. "Just tired."
Cecile placed her hand on his shoulder. "I don't blame you," she said softly. "No one does. For any of it."
A part of him wished someone would; that someone, a mother or husband or wife, anyone; just someone who would come up and scream in his face, slap him, maybe even blow his head off.
The other part didn't care.
"Warrant Officer Kururugi," his hip radio crackled. It was Lord Jeremiah.
Cecile let go of him as he grabbed his walkie, brushing back a lock of her hair. "Kururugi here."
"We've just received word from the brass. Form your men up. We're evacuating the Tokyo Settlement."
Evacuate? "Civilians or military?" he asked.
"Both. The main fleet will be here two days from now, probably less at the rate of speed they're going. Cruise liners, oil tankers, it doesn't matter; just get the people out."
"Understood. It will be done, My Lord."
He gritted his teeth. What was the point of everything I did if we're just going to hand the city over to Zero anyway?
Cecile was buttoning up her coat as he stood. His men seemed to notice him rise because they stopped what they were doing. They were looking at him strangely, a glint in their eyes he didn't recognize.
"Pack up your stuff and get ready to move out," he ordered. "We're evacuating the Tokyo Settlement."
He expected them to protest, but none did. As they began to pick up their gear, he turned to Cecile, intending on asking her to prepare the Lancelot for him, but he stopped. The same glint in her eyes was in theirs, and there was a small smile on her face. On Cecile's face, it became familiar.
Admiration.
…..
Viceroy's Private Chambers, Viceroy's Palace, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven
Viletta woke up slowly to the rays of sunlight that passed through the window. She looked left and right drowsily, trying to figure out where she was. There were red drapes to her every side; as she sat up, a red-gold blanket fell away.
I'm in a bed.
She stretched, her back popping as she arched, but when she yawned she winced in pain. Her jaw was sore. She climbed out of the bed and approached a vanity mirror on the other side of the ornately furnished room. There was a large bruise on the underside of her chin, probably from where Jeremiah had-
Viletta bolted to the door and swung it open, almost crashing into a uniformed soldier as he rushed past. She walked quickly; she would have run, but the hallway was too crowded with people moving in a thousand opposing directions. They carried boxes, stacks of papers, piles of data discs, heavy weapons. The air grew steadily hotter.
Viletta reached the main hall a few minutes later. There was a small bonfire in the middle of the main hall, upon which officers and dignitaries tossed stacks of papers and discs that couldn't be brought along. She suspected this was happening all over the palace.
Jeremiah stood off to the side, giving directions to a constant train of soldiers and civil servants.
"Jeremiah!" Viletta shouted. He didn't seem to notice her. "Lord Jeremiah!" she called again as she came closer, but he still didn't turn to her.
Viletta reached him, and grabbed him by the shoulder. "What did you-"
She choked.
Jeremiah's eyes were bloodshot; his hair was brittle; his skin was pale. He looked like he'd been through Hell. The question she had died in her heart. She knew.
"What's-" she swallowed heavily. "What's going on?" she asked instead.
"Evacuation," he told her. His voice sounded like it might break at any moment.
"Evacuation?"
"Prince Schneizel's orders," he said. "The Occupational Forces are broken. Those that haven't been killed are imprisoned in their own garrisons. All of the port fortresses have fallen. And, though they have stopped for now, hundreds of thousands of Chinese are advancing from the north." He gnashed his teeth. "We cannot hold the Settlement." There was a feral glow in his eyes. "Princess Cornelia is dead," he added. "Zero has won this war."
A pit opened up in Viletta's stomach. "I have to find Kaname," she said.
Before she could leave, however, Jeremiah said, "The ghettos are untouched. Shinjuku appears to have been abandoned. And besides, I need you here."
Tears burned in her eyes. "But I-"
"Viletta," Jeremiah implored gently, "I need you. I'm trying to do this on my own, but I can't." His eyes focused imploringly. "Please."
She wanted to tell him to go to Hell, but one look told her he was already there. He's out there, somewhere. Her heart squeezed painfully. She knew she didn't have a choice. Please, God, let Kaname be safe.
"How-How can I help?" It was all she could think to ask.
"Burn what you can," he answered. "Kururugi is already working on getting our people on board the ships out of here."
"What about our aircraft?"
He grimaced. "We tried to eyeball it with one of the C-130s," he replied. "It exploded in mid-air. There were three hundred people on board, all civilians." He rubbed his mouth. "Plus God only knows how many hit by the wreckage." He looked up at her with limpid eyes. "I'm sorry."
She wondered for a moment what he was apologizing for; so much had gone wrong. She licked her lips; she had to know. "Did you do it because you knew I would stop you?" she asked.
He considered her question for a moment. "Yes," he finally said.
Somehow, Viletta knew that wasn't true.
….
Chuo, Yamanashi Province, Area Eleven
The safehouse was a simple gray square building, outside of which stood a pair of black suited guards holding machine pistols on a mostly abandoned street. They saluted as Lelouch and Kallen approached.
"Lord Kirihara is just inside, My Lord," the one on the left told them.
Lelouch nodded. He gestured to the door. Kallen entered first, her machine pistol cocked in case they were betrayed. Lelouch brought up the rear, his boots clicking on the linoleum floor. The interior was spartan, consisting of little more than a desk off to the side and a few cots planted against the walls.
In the center of the room sat Taizo Kirihara, his staff gripped tightly in his hands, the knuckles bone white. Kallen's trigger finger twitched.
"Let's dispense with the pleasantries, old man," Lelouch said coldly. "You know why you're here."
Kirihara visibly swallowed. "Yes," he admitted, "I can well imagine."
"How long have you been plotting against me?"
"For almost a month."
"Who are the other conspirators?"
"Myself, Sawisaki, Katase, and the High Eunuchs."
"What about Tohdoh?"
"Him, too," Kirihara confirmed. "The rest of the Four Holy Swords, as well."
"What are the full details of the plan?"
"I don't know."
Lelouch leveled his gun at Kirihara's chest. "Don't lie to me, Kirihara," he warned him. "You're treading on very thin ice."
"I'm telling you the truth," Kirihara protested. "It was too dangerous for me to be in constant communication with the other conspirators. I was told to keep my head down, and continue as if it were business as usual."
Lelouch considered his words carefully. "Very well," he said, lowering his gun. "What was the reward for your betrayal?"
"Full control over the Sakuradite distribution in Japan."
"You greedy son of a bitch!" Kallen screamed at him. "You murdered my friends, blew up hundreds of people, just so you could make a few extra pounds?"
"Kallen! That's enough!"
"But he-"
"ENOUGH!" Lelouch gave her his full attention. "If you can't control yourself, leave."
Kallen scowled, went to say something, thought better of it. She stepped back, hatred burning in her eyes, her body coiled to lash out.
Lelouch returned his attention to Kirihara. "Why?" he asked.
Kirihara looked confused. "Why, what?"
"Why did you do all of this? Why did you betray me, Kirihara?"
"Are you seriously asking me that question?" Kirihara asked angrily. "You imprisoned me in my own home, placed me under 24-hour surveillance, and isolated me from my power base." He leaned forward. "You broke every promise you made to me, Lelouch!" He laughed bitterly. "And do you want to know something?" His eyes were ugly. "Even after all of that, I would have still supported you, still bowed and scraped before you, had you not sent Kaguya on a suicide mission."
Lelouch clenched his fist. "Kaguya is in great danger now because of what you've done, Kirihara," he told him. "We haven't received any word from her in days."
Kirihara sagged back into his seat, looking utterly defeated. "She should be coming home soon," he murmured, more to himself than to Lelouch. "They promised us that. They have no reason to break their word."
Lelouch snorted. "That's what liars do, Taizo," he said softly. "They break their word."
"You'd know a lot about that, wouldn't you?" Kirihara asked him.
"I never broke my word to you, you doddering old fool," Lelouch scoffed. "I kept you locked up to keep you safe. I was going to fulfill every promise I made to you once the revolution succeeded. All you had to do was wait."
Kirihara sneered. "All evidence to the contrary," was all he said.
Lelouch huffed. He ran his hand over his chin. "There's just one more thing," he said. "Where's C-Two?"
Kirihara's eyes narrowed in confusion. "How should I know?" he demanded.
"Enough of this." Kallen heard the slot on his mask open. "Answer my question."
Kirihara's expression went slack. "Very well," he said robotically.
Kallen shivered. Here we go again.
"Where's C-Two?" Lelouch repeated.
"I don't know."
"Bullshit! C-Two hasn't shown up in days, and I can only think of one reason for that: you sold C-Two to Mao, didn't you?"
Who the Hell is Mao?
"Whose Mao?"
Kirihara didn't seem to know either.
Lelouch grunted disgustedly. "I should have known they wouldn't have shared it with you," he groused. "Still, I had hoped." He shook his head. "Fine. Tell me this: how much do Katase and Tohdoh know about me? What all did you tell them?"
"Nothing."
Lelouch froze. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," the geassed Kirihara repeated.
"I don't understand."
"I told them nothing about you," Kirihara expounded.
Lelouch made a choking noise. "Why didn't you tell them?" he asked.
"They would have killed you, had they known who you were," Kirihara answered. "I took steps to make sure that wouldn't happen."
"What do you mean, old man?" Lelouch asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
"The others wanted to kill you," Kirihara explained. "Zero was too great a threat to be left alive. However, no one knew who Zero was beneath the mask. Once the coup took place, it would have been a simple matter to capture and replace you with a dead body. That would have satisfied their blood lust, and kept you safe from harm. My plan was to confine you to a respectably sized mansion where you would be confined for the rest of your life. You would have been safe, secure, and isolated. The same as I was."
Lelouch's entire body was tense. "Why would you do that, Taizo?" he asked, his voice breaking.
"Because I love you, Lelouch. No one took to my lessons as easily as you did. No one else had the same raw, untapped potential as you. In your eyes, I saw the fires of hatred, revenge, and ambition. But above all, because Kaguya loves you, and I could never break her heart."
Kirihara's explanation was delivered in dull monotone. Lelouch grabbed his chest.
Lelouch placed his hand against his mask. "That's enough," he said quietly, his voice thick. "I release you from my control."
Awareness returned to Kirihara's eyes. "What-What just-"
"Taizo," Lelouch said sadly, "for what it's worth, I'm sorry it had to end this way."
He raised his pistol and fired a single shot through Kirihara's head. His skull jerked back from the force of the blast, his brains spraying across the floor behind him. He fell from his chair and tumbled to the floor. His body twitched as blood pooled around him.
It didn't take long for him to stop moving.
Lelouch holstered his pistol. He turned to a woman garbed in a maid dress. "There's some spare fuel in the back of the humvee," he told her. "Burn this place to the ground."
The maid bowed. "It will be done, My Lord."
Lelouch whirled around and marched outside, Kallen following close behind.
"I've ordered the guards inside to set the building on fire," Lelouch told the guards. "Once the fire gets started, kill everyone inside. When you're certain that everyone is dead, kill yourselves inside as well."
Both guards came to attention. "Yes, My Lord!"
Kallen choked. "Le-Zero, why-"
"They heard my name, Kallen," he told her tiredly. "There are ways to undo geass. If my identity is discovered, and publicized, the Black Knights will fall apart. This is the only way I can be sure my identity isn't made known."
She grabbed his arm. "But-"
"How many people would you have killed to keep your double life a secret?" he asked her pointedly. "How many lives would you have snuffed out to keep from blowing your cover?"
She bit her lip. "That's not fair."
"Perhaps," he conceded, "but it is true."
Kallen felt a wave of heat behind her, and, a few moments later, the sound of gunshots.
Lelouch's shoulders sagged. He turned his back to her. "I didn't want this," he said quietly. "I didn't want any of this. I didn't want to be that man again. I didn't-" he choked. "I didn't want to be a monster."
Kallen's heart squeezed. She placed her hand on his arm. "Lelouch…"
He pulled away from her. She followed behind him as he climbed back into the humvee. "The word is given, General Yun," he told the geassed man. "Rain fire upon my enemies."
"Yes, My Lord!"
…
The Avalon, Above Tokyo Bay
"Your Highness, we're receiving some very concerning meteorological reports in the South Pacific," a communications officer said. "It may be unsafe for the fleet to continue its advance."
"How serious are the reports?" Prince Schneizel asked.
"It looks to be a tropical storm at the moment, heading northwest from the Coral Sea."
The Prime Minister gave no indication of his thoughts. He was still as a marble statue upon his throne. "Keep an eye on the weather," he ordered. "Tell the fleet to double their speed. If that storm turns in our direction, I want us prepared."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Nonette turned to the Prime Minister. "Are you certain that's wise, Your Highness?" she asked him. "It might be better to have the fleet return to Pearl."
"I share your concern, Dame Enneagram," Schneizel acknowledged. "Unfortunately, we have little choice. We're going to need every ship we can get if we want to go toe-to-toe with the Federation." He smiled. "It's quite fortunate they're willing to negotiate. We can draw out talks as long as needed until the fleet arrives."
Nonette nodded, stepping back. His calm demeanor was in sharp contrast to the explosion of fury he had subjected her to when she had arrived.
"You were supposed to protect the Viceroy, not leave her to die while you pursued glory!" he had shouted.
"I was ordered to hold the north-"
"Ordered? You were given full military authority over Area Eleven! You were supposed to bring Zero to heel! Instead, Zero's in command of the Area's Sakuradite, and my sister is dead!"
"I know, damn it! You think that isn't eating away at me? She was my friend-"
"No, you don't get to play at righteous fury. She was your friend, but she was my sister, and you let her die!"
He snarled. "If I had the power, I would strip you of your rights, titles, and privileges here and now," he said. "Be grateful that it is my father who reigns, not I."
Nonette bit her lip. "What happens now?" she asked.
"Now? We negotiate. And, once the rest of the fleet arrives, we avenge our fallen."
A comm officer stood up suddenly, pulling Nonette from her thoughts. "Your Highness, the Chinese have broken the armistice!" he shouted.
Schneizel stood up. "What?" he demanded, his eyes wide.
"Artillery is being fired on the Tokyo Settlement!" the officer announced. "The armistice is broken!"
…
Inner Perimeter, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven
"RUN YOU SONS OF BITCHES! RUN!" Tompkins shouted.
Suzaku didn't need to be told twice. The massive crowd of civilians and soldiers broke out into a panicked sprint, great gouts of flame and rubble erupting all around them. Body parts sprayed down over him, the screams of the fleeing refugees loud in his ears.
There were too many people in the city, too many civilians that had hid in the basements of their homes, or their attics, or their closets, moving too slowly towards the harbor and airports. The result was a chaotic scrum that barely moved now transforming into a crazed mob trampling each other in a blind panic.
Thank God Cecile already evacuated. The Lancelot had been assigned priority evacuation clearance. Suzaku, being the highest ranking officer left, didn't have the luxury of leaving.
Suzaku grabbed people as he ran, lifting people back to their feet, shoving those that moved too slowly. He reached down, pulling a small hand in a pile of people, nearly falling over when the expected weight didn't materialize.
"What the-"
All it was was an arm, small and delicate, like a woman's or-
He tossed it away and ran.
"Don't think," he shouted to himself. "Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't-"
Over the screaming he heard a familiar voice. "Help! Please help!"
He turned his head in surprise. "Milly?" he said.
Yes, there she was, still in her Ashford uniform, covered in dirt and dried blood, waving to anyone for help.
"Milly!" he shouted. He cut through the crowd, elbowing and punching his way through. "Milly!" he shouted again when he was almost right in front of her.
"Suzaku!" she cried happily. "Help! Rivalz's-"
She didn't have to say anything. Rivalz lay on a hospital stretcher, the wheels busted. He was breathing painfully, tears running down his cheeks. There was a gun in his hand.
Suzaku heard a whistling sound.
"Get down!" he shouted, grabbing Milly and covering her and Rivalz. Behind him there was an explosion as an abandoned restaurant went up in flames.
"I can't get him moved!" Milly cried out, her face wet with tears. "He's too heavy!"
Suzaku nodded. "Rivalz, buddy?" he said, turning to his injured friend. "The wheels are busted. I'm going to have to cause you some pain, okay?"
Rivalz clenched his teeth. "I'm in pain anyway," he ground out between his teeth. "How much worse can it be?"
Suzaku patted him. "Good man!"
"That's the spirit!" Milly said, smiling through the tears and the fear. "You've got guts!"
Suzaku grabbed Rivalz by his arm, tossing him over his shoulder. Rivalz let out an agonized scream, but Suzaku paid it no mind.
"Oh God, Rivalz!" Milly wailed.
"Run, Milly!" Suzaku shouted at her. "Now!"
They took off running together, hopping over holes, dodging around craters, stumbling on corpses. Suzaku passed a weeping child, crying for his mother, but he didn't stop.
"Come here, little one, come on," he heard Milly say.
Incredulous, he turned around to see Milly picking the child up. "Goddammit, Milly, come on!" he shouted.
She came running, the child held over her chest. "I won't just leave him!" she shouted back, running past him.
Suzaku took off after her, Rivalz's anguished screams loud in his ear.
They ran, and they ran, and they kept running. Around them people went flying, buildings came down, great gouts of flame erupted. Bodies burned in the streets.
So this is what Hell looks like.
…
Utsunomiya Encampment, Utsunomiya, Area Eleven
"What the Hell do you think you're doing?" Tohdoh demanded.
He had been disturbed from his grief over Katase by the sounds of gunfire. He and the rest of the Holy Swords left their command area, only to find the Federation troops lining Britannians up and shooting them.
"My job," a Federation colonel answered. "We've just received orders from the brass: execute all Britannian officers." He waved his hand to the men holding the officers prisoner. Another twenty prisoners were brought forth, their eyes defiant even as they allowed the Chinese to line them up.
Chiba protested. "But there's a ceasefire!"
"Not anymore," the colonel informed her. "They're shelling Tokyo as we speak. We'll have the rest of the Area under our control by the end of the day."
"There are three carrier groups sitting just offshore," Tohdoh reminded him. "They'll shell our army from the sea. There's no strategy here! This is just wanton slaughter!"
Gunfire rattled off behind him, followed by the loud thumping of bodies.
"These," the colonel said, "are orders. And, a good soldier follows orders." He waved his hand again.
Tohdoh was furious. "You-"
"Are you being insubordinate, Colonel Tohdoh?" the colonel asked, a dangerous gleam in his eye.
Tohdoh closed his mouth, looking around. The Chinese troops in the immediate area had started to gather around them, even as the next batch of prisoners were being executed. They were all fingering their guns.
The colonel stepped forward. "Well?"
Tohdoh felt Chiba place her hand on his shoulder. "Colonel," she said warningly, "be careful."
Tohdoh considered, for a moment, whipping out his pistol and blowing this psycho's head off, but Chiba's presence calmed him down. If I do that, none of my people will be safe.
He shook his head. "No."
"Good. You are dismissed."
There was another round of gunfire, another wave of the hand.
As Tohdoh and Chiba left, he said, "Get Prime Minister Sawisaki on the line. Tell him what's happening."
She nodded. "Yes, sir."
…
Aoyagimachi, Yamanashi Province, Area Eleven
The ride back to Mount Fuji was proving to be quiet, and slow. Outside the windows of the humvee, uniformed soldiers marched alongside unorganized partisans. Armor and equipment rode down the roads and railways.
No matter where they went, everyone was heading to Tokyo.
"When Britannian reinforcements arrive," Lelouch said, "your forces will take charge in meeting them. I want those troops that are known loyalists to the Eunuchs to be first line of defense. I want as many of them killed as possible."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Transfer the Tianzi's loyalists back to mainland China. They are to be given first priority."
"Yes, My Lord."
Kallen was barely paying attention to them, choosing instead to stare out the bullet-proof windows. The sheer level of activity was awe-inspiring.
Despite her misgivings, Kallen felt a sense of satisfaction. "It's finally happening," she said out loud. She turned around and grabbed Lelouch's hand. "We'll finally be free!"
He nodded in response, but before he could say anything, General Yun's radio crackled. "General, there's an open hail from the Imperial lines!"
General Yun looked to Lelouch, who nodded his approval. "Connect us."
A moment later, the radio crackled.
"-Repeat, this is Prime Minister Prince Schneizel el Britannia. You are engaged in an unlawful insurrection against the rightful masters of Area Eleven. You have murdered, through terrorism and open battle, thousands of unarmed, innocent civilians. You have assassinated multiple high ranking officers and civil servants. Above all else, you are guilty of two counts of Regicide; first, in the personage of the previous Viceroy, Prince Clovis la Britannia; second, in the personage of Viceroy Princess Cornelia li Britannia. You are, further, guilty of attempted Regicide against Sub-Viceroy Princess Euphemia li Britannia.
"To all forces in open rebellion against the Imperial Crown, and to those foreign actors assisting in this unlawful revolt, I issue this formal proclamation: the Dragon has been raised. I repeat: the Dragon has been raised.
"You have ten minutes to make your peace with God."
Kallen's jaw dropped. "Le-Lelouch," she stammered, turning to him in horror. "Did-Did he just-"
"GENERAL!" Lelouch shouted. "Stop the car! Get your air force and all anit-air capabilities moving, now!" He turned to Kallen. "Kallen, to the Gawain! There's not a moment to lose!"
…
The Avalon, Above Tokyo Bay, Area Eleven
Prince Schneizel stood before them, his adjunct Kanon Maldini holding out a clipboard. "With this pen, I sign the death sentence of a people, a nation." He affixed his signature to it. "You here are witnesses to this act. In accordance with the Imperial Code of War, the Dragon banner is formally raised. Quarter shall not be given. All citizens under arms are hereby declared rebels against the Crown."
Nonette felt sick to her stomach.
The Prince stepped forward, looking out of the viewport. He waved his hand before him, saying, "Begin the bombardment. Wipe this pathetic island from the face of the Earth!"
…
Throne Room, Viceroy's Palace, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven
"Let me go! Let me go goddammit!" Viletta screamed, tears streaking down her face.
"Hold her down!" Jeremiah ordered.
"I need to find him! Let me go!"
Jeremiah was one of a half-dozen men restraining her as she attempted to leave.
"If you go out there, you'll be killed, too!" Jeremiah shouted.
"I don't care! Kaname! KANAME!"
I know how you feel, Viletta, Jeremiah thought. My Prince...
The only thing stopping him from running out there right now was preventing Viletta from doing the same.
There was another reason as well. No matter what happened, he still had a duty to House vi Britannia.
My Prince, no matter what happens, I will keep the Princess safe!
It was all he could do. He would have to trust in his Prince. They all would.
…
Chuo City, Tokyo Settlement
"Oh, God," Milly murmured loud enough for Suzaku to hear.
They had finally been able to stop running. Rivalz had, mercifully, passed out at some point. The little boy that Milly had rescued had been found by his mother, who had thanked Milly profusely. Suzaku sat on the ground, exhausted. Among the crowd of injured and refugees, he thought he saw one of the Glastons.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"Look at that," she said, pointing at the sky. Suzaku followed her gaze.
Hundreds of planes, from heavy bombers to fighter craft, covered the sky like a horde of locusts. He could hear the drone of their engines even from the ground.
Suzaku pressed his lips into a thin line.
"So, he's finally done it," Suzaku mumbled. "Zero's finally awakened the giant."
…
The Avalon, Above Tokyo Bay
"Knight Leader to Avalon Base."
"Avalon Base to Knight Leader, we read you," Prince Schneizel replied.
"Picking up enemy air presence. Moving to engage."
"Roger, Knight Leader. Sweep them out of the sky."
"Roger."
Be safe, Gino, Nonette implored him silently. I've already lost one friend. Don't make me lose another.
…
Utsunomiya Encampment, Area Eleven
The encampment was in a panic. Pilots rushed to their Knightmares, some of them already firing into the sky. Tohdoh didn't understand why, at first, until he saw the mass of Britannian planes in the air.
"Oh, no," he said in horror. "Not again."
There were sudden shouts. Tohdoh looked around to see the Britannian prisoners in full revolt, wrestling with the Chinese guards. Several of the prisoners were killed in the struggle, but there weren't enough guards, and a few of the prisoners were able to steal some weapons. Gunfire ripped out of the center of the camp as the prisoners opened fire, striking Chinese infantry and pilots as they attempted to reach their Knightmares.
Tohdoh grabbed his pistol and opened fire on them, striking one in the head, but the mob of moving Chinese soldiers made it too dangerous to continue firing.
"Colonel Tohdoh!" Asahina shouted. "We have to get moving!"
Tohdoh went to reply, when the first bomb dropped. The heat wave threw him off his feet. He held up his hand to ward it off, opening his eyes to see a wall of flame swallowing prisoners and soldiers alike. Agonized screams filled the air as men burned alive, waving their arms around in a vain attempt to put out the flames.
Tohdoh staggered to his feet. "Asahina!" he shouted.
The bespectacled man approached him out of the smoke, his face blackened, coughing. "S-Sir!"
"Get us the Hell out of here!" Tohdoh shouted.
"Yes, sir!"
…
Aoyagimachi, Yamanashi Province
The Gawain rose easily into the air. Kallen was much more confident about her abilities with the flying Knightmare now, though the damage it had sustained in the fight with Cornelia had not been completely repaired. The chassis had at least been repaired, so she wouldn't have to worry about a stray shot blowing them to Kingdom Come.
"Hadron Cannons are armed," Lelouch said. "IFF is activated." He took a deep breath. "We're ready."
Kallen wouldn't have very much to do. The only weapons she controlled were the slash harkens. The sky, while cloudy, had not yet turned into a torrential downpour.
"Do you think Ohgi and the others will be alright?" she asked worriedly.
"The Imperials won't target Mount Fuji, it's too valuable," Lelouch reassured her. "Now," he said darkly, "let's kill these bastards."
The first shot of the Hadron Cannon swept from left-to-right. Kallen couldn't see the explosions, but she could tell that the sky was a lot clearer now than it had been.
The Sakuradite meter beeped. "Power down to 88 percent," she reported dutifully. "Make that 84 percent."
"The power consumption on this thing is a real drain," Lelouch grumbled. "Still, it should last long enough to take out this flight. Once this wave is eliminated, we'll move against the forces in the north."
Assuming there's a north left, Kallen thought.
…..
The Avalon
"Eagle Leader to Avalon Base."
"Avalon Base to Eagle Leader, we read you."
"Have encountered enemy flying object. We have sustained heavy casualties."
"Acknowledged Eagle Leader. Transmit visuals of the enemy craft."
"Roger."
A minute later, the image of a Knightmare Frame appeared on the view screen.
Schneizel clicked his tongue. "As I suspected," he said. "The Gawain. It seems we've stumbled upon Zero himself. Eagle Leader," he addressed, "designating new target, priority one: the Gawain. Destroy it. We can gather up the wreckage later."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
…
Aoyagimachi
"Rockets inbound!" Kallen shouted. "ETA eighty seconds to impact!"
"Not a problem," Lelouch said. Another jet of fire from the Hadron Cannons swept the approaching fighter screen. "Their ordinance will melt away just like their planes."
Just like he said, the rockets heading their way were gone, along with a substantial portion of their planes.
"Child's play," he crowed.
Kallen looked down at the Sakuradite meter. "Fifty-three percent," she told him. "We're burning through fuel fast."
"Not to worry," Lelouch assured her. "We should have enough for two, maybe three more shots." He grinned. "More than enough to take out the rest of their air force."
…..
The Avalon
"Avalon Base, this Eagle Five, taking over as squadron leader! Rocket wave ineffective! We are suffering heavy casualties!"
Prince Schneizel turned to his combat controllers. "Percentage of combat capable craft still in the air," he demanded.
One of the controllers did some quick math. "Calculate we are still at 61 percent combat capability, Your Highness!"
Schneizel did not look pleased by that. He tapped his chin. "Attempt one more strike," he ordered. "This will be the make or break."
…
Aoyagimachi
"They're trying to hit us again!" Kallen told Lelouch.
"I can see that!" he replied. "Current power level?"
Kallen checked. "We're down to 43 percent!"
"That's enough for one more shot," Lelouch said. "After that, we'll have to set down for fuel. Get on the comms with the ground control. Tell them to get us a Sakuradite filler ready."
As Kallen did that, Lelouch fired off their last shot. Once again, the beam strobed over the plane formations, traveling up and down as it moved. Once again, a significant amount of Britannian fighters and bombers were destroyed. There was just one thing different.
One of the rockets got through.
"OH SHIT!" Kallen shouted.
She fired a slash harken, hoping to intercept it in mid-air, but she only succeeded in gouging into the side of it, knocking it off course. The rocket veered past them, corkscrewing into the trailer holding their spare Sakuradite. A massive explosion of pink light and red fire erupted, consuming the entirety of their convoy and a huge portion of the area around it.
Kallen gaped. "That-That was…" She couldn't think of anything to say.
Lelouch could. "That was all of our fuel."
…
The Avalon
"That was one Hell of an explosion," Nonette said.
His Highness didn't respond. He turned back to his combat controller and asked, "What's our remaining combat capability?"
"F-Forty-six percent, Your Highness," he stammered.
Prince Schneizel clasped his hands behind his back. "Reassign the survivors to their secondary objectives," he said. "We've lost enough men on this. We'll hit Zero again when the rest of the fleet gets here."
"Are you certain that's wise?" Nonette asked. "I think we may have just hit their fuel truck."
"It's a possibility," His Highness allowed, "but, we don't know if they managed to fix the power consumption issues. If they have, we would just be sending more good pilots to their deaths. We have less than fifty percent of our air force in this region left. The odds are not in our favor."
….
Aoyagimachi
The Gawain was falling. Well, technically drifting, perhaps even gliding, but it was a distinction without a difference. They came to a landing in front of the raging inferno that used to be their fuel tanks, watching in grim-faced silence as the Imperial planes diverted from their position.
"Do you think they're going home?" Kallen asked hopefully.
"No," Lelouch murmured. "They're just looking for easier targets."
"How do you know?"
"Because it's what I would do."
A few minutes later, they watched in silent horror as flames rose over the small towns and villages in the far off distance.
Kallen's shoulders shook uncontrollably. Her heart felt like it was splitting in two. Warm arms slipped around her, pulling her close.
She buried her face in Lelouch's chest, and wept.
…..
The Tianzi's Private Chambers, Palace of Heavenly Tranquility, Beijing, Chinese Federation
"Your Majesty, an emergency meeting of the Court has been called."
The Tianzi stared blankly out of the window. The evening sun had painted the sky a bloody red. She could hear thunder in the distance.
"Your Majesty, please," Xingke repeated. "It cannot start without you."
"Why not?" the Empress asked him. "What does it matter what they hear from me?" She looked up at him. "I am only a figurehead, General. You saw to that."
Xingke winced. "I had no choice, Your Majesty," he said. "They would have killed you if I refused."
"You had every choice, General," she retorted. "You and Xianglin both. You could have come to me, warned me. Instead, you served me up to them on a silver platter."
"This is all that girl's fault," Xingke whispered. "She did this to you. If she had never come here, none of this would have happened."
"All the Lady Sumeragi did was open my eyes." She glared at him accusingly. "Something you should have done, General."
Xingke reached out to her. "Your Majest-"
"Is she ready to come, or not?" Zhong demanded as he stepped into her chambers.
The Tianzi frowned at him. "We do not recall giving you permission to enter, Lord Zhong."
Zhong sniffed. "I do not remember asking," he retorted mockingly. "Now, come. The Court is ready to receive you."
A pair of crimson clad guards stood behind him, their spears held at the ready. The Tianzi looked between, saying, "Very well. Let us be on our way."
The guards closed in around her as she stepped outside, her hands tucked in the opposing sleeves of her robes. The walk from her chambers to the Hall of Supreme Harmony was a short one. The walls to either side of the hallway were lined with anxious looking courtiers and servants who, even in the presence of their Empress, murmured quietly to one another.
I assumed the situation was bad, she thought, but not this bad.
The herald declared her presence to the Court when they arrived. The Tianzi walked resolutely past the hundreds of noblemen and courtiers, carefully keeping her eyes locked on the throne. Once she sat down, Lord Xia Wang of the High Eunuchs stepped forward.
"We received a report from Prime Minister Sawisaki, of the Democratic Republic of Japan," he began, "earlier today. That report claimed that our troops had violated the armistice established by our diplomatic bureau, and that fighting had once more broken out between our Chinese Federation and the Holy Empire of Britannia." He paused for a moment, looking left and right over his audience. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead. "We can now confirm those reports."
The Court became loud with murmuring.
Wang cleared his throat. "In addition to that," he said over the Court, "it has been reported, and confirmed, that the Britannian Empire engaged in a targeted aerial bombing campaign across the country. We estimate that a third of the Expeditionary force has been destroyed."
Outwardly, the Empress kept her calm demeanor. Inside her sleeves, she was clutching her wrists so tightly she drew blood. It's worse than you're saying, isn't it? That's why you're not lying. It's too big for you to cover up!
Wang visibly swallowed. "Obviously, this is an alarming chain of events," he said, "but rest assured, we are taking steps to ameliorate-"
"Ameliorate?" the Tianzi interrupted incredulously. The whole of the Court went silent at her outburst. "Ameliorate the destruction of our armies? Ameliorate the tens of thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, and wives who have just lost their cherished men? Ameliorate the humiliation our great nation has suffered in this foolhardy gamble?"
Wang fell back beneath her fury. In his place, a nervous looking Zhong stepped forward.
"Clearly some mistakes were made," the High Eunuch said. "It's fair to say that fault lies with all of us."
"So the fault lies on your Empress, Zhong?" the Tianzi asked archly.
Zhong recoiled as if struck. "We-Well perhaps not as much-"
"Tell us Zhong, who in this hall advocated for the invasion?" she asked rhetorically.
"Well, we did-"
"Yes, you did, our illustrious High Eunuchs," the Empress spat. "And who, pray tell, was it that advocated against launching this debacle?"
The Eunuch glared up at her murderously.
"Oh? Nothing to say?" the Empress asked. She turned to Xingke. "General Xingke, who was it that advocated for the invasion?"
Xingke answered, "We did."
"And who advocated against it?"
He bowed his head in shame. "You did," he answered.
"Yes, we did," she said angrily. "We, your Tianzi, whom you shouted down, whom you made mockery of. We were right! We alone were against this foolish adventure, and we have been proven right!"
Wang stepped forward again, his trembling hand adjusting his glasses. "We will resolve this situation, Your Ma-"
"You will do nothing, Wang," the Empress proclaimed. "Nothing. You will sit in your palace until we have repaired your blunder."
Zhong spluttered, "Y-You can't just-"
"We can do whatever we please, Zhong!" she declared. "You serve at our pleasure, not the other way around!"
"We were here before you were a gleam in your father's eye, you albino whore!" Zhong shouted.
The Court became deathly silent. The only sound that could be heard was the rattling of steel.
General Xingke had drawn his sword. "You dare!"
Zhong showed no sign of having been cowed. "Put that toy away, you up-jumped peasant!" He turned back to the Tianzi. "And you-"
"So you are not merely incompetent," the Tianzi said dangerously, glaring furiously at him. "You are also a traitor!"
Zhong's eyes bulged. "We are-"
"You are parasites, feeding on the sacred body that is our China!" the Empress accused. "All of you! Every last one of you disgusting Eunuchs, feeding on the lifeblood of our people. Well, no more!" The Empress stood up from her throne, waving her hand before her. "You have lost the Mandate of Heaven! You are cockroaches, not fit to be stepped upon! We, by our power as the Sacred Tianzi, Empress of China, declare you to be outlaws and traitors! Your lands are stripped, your titles and privileges revoked! Your names will be spoken of with shame for the next ten thousand years! You-"
Zhong stomped forward from his place, climbed the dais, and slapped her across the face. The entire Court gasped. Outside, thunder clapped. Blood ran down from the Tianzi's lip. She held her cheek, stunned.
"You declare me an outlaw?" Zhong demanded. His eyes were hot with malice. "Me? You filthy little bitch!" He raised his hand again.
The Tianzi would never quite know what happened next. One moment, his hand was flying towards her face; the next, it was flying free as a bird across the room. The Tianzi would have asked the High Eunuch about this most curious development, but Zhong's face was gone, leaving behind only the stump of a neck spraying arterial blood all over her.
The Court descended into chaos. Shouts of "FOR THE EMPRESS!" clashed with "TO THE EUNUCHS!"
Daggers flashed throughout the Court as the nobility turned on one another, war cries intermingling with the screams of the dying.
A strong arm wrapped around her midsection, lifting her off the floor. "Your Majesty, with me!" she heard Xingke shout.
He pushed their way through the throngs of nobles, his sword flashing as he hacked through the guards that stood in his way. "Protect the Empress!" he shouted, and a cadre of nobles gathered around them, daggers flashing as they cut through the stunned guards.
They made it outside to the top of the staircase. The Empress could barely hear anything over the storm outside. She couldn't comprehend the sight before her.
Dead bodies littered the courtyard. Soldiers fired their weapons, but they weren't striking the Tianzi or Xingke.
"General Xingke, Your Majesty!" Xianglin ran up to them. She was covered in smoke, grime, and blood. "With me, to safety!"
They followed her to an armored troop carrier, marked with what appeared to be the sigil of General Hong Gu, where they quickly climbed inside.
"Get us out of here!" Xingke shouted.
That was when the Tianzi came back to herself. "Wait!" she cried. "The Lady Sumeragi, where is she?"
"Sawisaki has her!" Xianglin replied. "They're making for the helipad. Your Majesty, we must leave!"
"No!" Jiang refused. "We're not leaving without her!"
"Your Majesty," Xinge said, "please, we must-"
"Whom do you serve, Xingke?" Jiang demanded.
Xingke was startled. "You, Your Majesty."
"Then serve me!" she ordered. "Bring me the Lady Sumeragi!"
Xingke looked conflicted for only a moment. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
…
Embassy Helipad, Embassy Row, Beijing, Chinese Federation
"Such a catastrophe," Sawisaki complained.
When Sawisaki had heard the sound of thunder, he had naturally assumed it was just another storm front rolling through. That presumption changed when he saw a plume of fire in the distance. He knew it was time to evacuate when he picked up a phone to warn the Palace guard, only to discover that the phone lines had been cut.
"At least we shall be away from this decadent palace," he mused, brushing his hand over the Lady Sumeragi's forehead.
The girl lay asleep in a medical stretcher, her wrists and ankles strapped down, an anesthesia mask affixed to her nose and mouth. She had put up an admirable struggle when they clamped her to the stretcher, but there was little she could do against four burly guardsmen and a mask pressed onto her face.
"I much prefer you this way," he confessed as he brushed a lock of her lustrous black hair out of her eyes. "You're far more pleasing without that ambitious gleam in your eyes."
She would be angry when she awoke, of course, but there were enough narcotics boxed up in the helicopter to put her in a drug-fueled haze for weeks. Addiction would create dependency, and dependency would snuff out that flame quite nicely.
"I doubt Kirihara will approve," he mused, "but you will be alive, as per our agreement, and he won't be able to complain about that."
The pilot of the helicopter turned around. "Minister Sawisaki," he said, "we'll be ready to take off in five minutes!"
Sawisaki nodded. "Very good," he complimented. "Once we have rejoined with the Eunuchs, I shall see that you are duly rewarded."
Greed was a powerful motivator. The pilot gave him a grin and a thumbs up. His face exploded in a shower of blood.
Sawisaki recoiled. "Wha-What in-"
He stood up from his seat, turned, and-
Something sharp slipped through his forehead. He vaguely felt cold steel penetrate the back of his skull, then the weirdest sensation of a skinny piece of metal running through his head.
"I-I-What-But-"
He stumbled outside of the helicopter, staggering around as gray matter fell to the ground in mushy clumps.
He turned back to the helicopter, saw that the Lady Sumeragi was nowhere on board, stumbled around to try to find her.
"I-But-We-I-" His tongue felt fat in his mouth.
His vision turned inexplicably red. He stumbled, first to his knees, then crumbled onto his face.
Motor functions ceased. His pants became wet.
His last coherent words were, "But we were supposed to-"
His red eyes went black.