Mario Diesel might be added into another chapter.
As always, please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 4: The Black Knights of Zero
"Of all things to happen in this place, should've expected a hostage takeover." Carlito glanced at Malik. "JLF?"
Malik grunted. "Looks like it." he said, before turning to Carlito. "The old man's room is next. Get ready."
A JLF soldier kicked the door in to Harkov's room, gun in hand. "Out, old man! Now!" he barked, as Harkov saw Malik and Carlito behind the man. "I won't tell you again!"
"Give me a moment to get my glasses first. I can barely see." the old man, stalling for time before what happened next came
"Now, I said-!" the JLF soldier was taken from behind in a chokehold by Malik, using his strength to put him into unconsciousness
"This is not how I manage tonight going." Harkov rearranged his glasses as he looked at Malik and Carlito. "Appreciate the save."
"Come on, let's go."
Malik and Carlito use stealth to avoid JLF, letting them pass by. Malik scouted off ahead while Carlito touched an elevator button to the bottom level. He hid behind the corner to see whether JFL soldiers would step out if they were inside or being completely empty for him and Harkov to use it as a distraction. Before he got an answer, he was grabbed from behind by two JLF soldiers as a third soldier held Harkov at gunpoint as the old man held up his hands.
"Take the old man with the other hostages. We'll find out who this masked one is." the soldier as looked down at Carlito. "Stop struggling, bastard!"
Carlito fired a shot at the soldier's foot while he kicked the other hard in the chest. He used the back of his head to hit the one from behind. The one Carlito kicked got him and aimed his rifle at him, only for a roundhouse kick to the face to put him down.
"You alright?"
Carlito nodded. "Damn it." he swore under his breath. "They got the old man. They're taking him to the other hostages. What now?"
"We'll split up." Malik declared. "You try getting into contact with Alice or Oval by finding a secluded area of the hotel. I'll see how I can get the old man."
"They're probably keeping him in a storage space in the hotel." Carlito replied. "I'll radio in while you get the old man. Good luck."
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe of the Japan Liberation Front and we have stood for Japan's independence." said colonel announced as Harkov was put in with the crowd of hostages harshly, leaving his glasses to fall on the floor. "Ladies and gentlemen, even though you're not soldiers, you are Britannians. The ones who rule over us. Be obedient and all will be well, or else! Consider this your only warning!" Kusakabe left some of his men, leaving only four to keep guard
"Are you okay?" an orange haired girl asked as Harkov nodded in reply. "Here you go." said, giving Harkov his glasses
"Thank you, young lady." Harkov kindly said to the girl
Two JLF guards hear a noise coming from one of the rooms, their weapons trained and at the ready. One of them beat the door down and entered the room armed, inspecting the room. One went into the bathroom while the other examined the room. The one in the room moved closer to the closet and cautiously opened it, still armed to find nothing but a coat on the hanger. All of a sudden, he heard a thud by the bathroom as he turned to check on the other guard. The last thing he saw before being hit unconscious by a strong force was a black samurai mask staring him down. Malik hid the bodies in the tub as he left the room, darting through the hallway. He stopped and peeked to see if any of the JLF were near his vicinity, before heading off to find Harkov. He moved forward to continue the search, remaining vigilant to find the old man as he quickly spotted a guard walking by close to his direction. Malik took the opportunity as he put the JLF soldier into a hold, the barrel of the gun pressed against his cheek.
"Where are you keeping those hostages of yours?" he asked through a modulated voice that disguised his actual one
"Who are you? Are you some sort of Britannian agent?" the soldier received a pistol whip from Malik. "Ahh!"
"Wrong answer." Malik pointed the gun near his eye as he trembled with fear. "So, let's try this again." his ears perked up once he heard the sound of an explosion. "What was that?"
"If anything, we just shot a Britannian aircraft."
"Since Cornelia is the viceroy, she has the manpower to storm this place regardless of hostages. But this is different. She's being cautious." his eyes narrowed at the soldier as Malik put the fear of God into him. "Why are you really here?"
"We heard from our spies that a VIP was here in the hotel!" the Japanese soldier admitted with fear. "The plan was take hostages and the VIP and have Cornelia give into our demands."
"Why is this VIP important?" Malik demanded as the soldier was silent, only for him yelp in pain when Malik broke one of his fingers. "I don't like repeating myself."
The soldier winced in pain and said. "Lt. Col Kusakabe would know. This was his plan."
"Fair enough." Malik knocked the soldier out as he radoied Carlito. "Hey, Little Wolf. I know why the JLF are here. They're looking for a high value VIP here in the hotel. It's the whole reason why they're staged this hostage takeover."
"Who's their target VIP?"
"I'm about to find out. How's everything going on your end?"
"I was able to get a message Alice, but no luck with Oval. The JLF has control of the air and sea covered from any incoming Britannia forces. Which means, the third option for Cornelia..."
"Is to use the ground forces. Something tells me the JLF already has something in the works."
"What makes you so sure?"
They got their answer when they heard a short rumbling from down below. Malik spoke afterwards once it settled. "Because it just happened."
"They did it!" one soldier exclaimed
"With just one blow!" another said in amazement
"The Raikou worked!" a third said excited
"How long do you think before they kill one of their hostages?" Malik asked Carlito on the radio
On Carlito's side, he saw a body falling off the roof of the hotel. "Sooner than you think." he grimly replied
"If we don't receive any response to our demands, we will send another one of these hostages to the same fate every thirty minutes. I hope that you can make a sincere effort on behalf of the hostages." Carlito heard Kusakabe spoke on the TV
"You need the old man before he's next." Carlito gritted his teeth at what he saw on the TV a moment later. "Meirda."
"What is it?"
"It's the student council. Those girls Shirley, Milly, and that one with the glasses."
"That's Nina. I'll make my way to the storage room and see what I can do. Meet me there." Carlito spotted something at the corner of his eye drive down the blockade, his eyes suddenly widened with shock. "Wolf? Little Wolf?"
"I told you not to call me that. And..." Carlito trailed off seeing Zero on top of a newsvan. "He's here. It's Zero."
"He might be able to stall them."
"Who? The Britannian army or the JLF?"
"Both." Malik replied. "Just me in the storage room when we free old Harkov."
"What do I call you?" Carlito asked as he had a feeling Malik was smiling under his mask
Malik ordered Carlito to meet him at the storage room where the rest of the hostages including Harkov, Shirley, Milly, and Nina were being held. He moved with urgency but proceeded with caution of any roaming JLF soldiers near in vicinity. He heard whimpering due to the use of his Geass, as he followed the direction of where it was coming from. The closer he was to it, the more he would be able to find the storage room for him and Carlito to save Harkov before the JLF decide to throw him off the roof. At that moment, he spotted Carlito who was armed with one of the JLF's rifles as he tossed one over to Malik. They moved silently as Carlito followed Malik, with Carlito covering the other side before Malik moved further ahead.
"Eleven." Malik heard a whimpering voice sudden say
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, GIRL?!" Malik heard a JLF soldier shout as he and Carlito ran silently to the storage room. "We're Japanese! Not eleven! Get it through your thick skull, Understand?!"
"We understand, so stop!" They recognize the voice of Milly as the two got closer
"Take it back! We are not Elevens!"
"We take it back!" the third voice they recognize as Shirley
"We can't take that attitude." the soldier yelled. "Come here! Time to teach you a lesson!"
"No!" the girl they quickly realized was Nina as Malik and Carlito were by the door to the storage room
"Stop it!" a new voice, this time feminine. "I demand you take me to your leader!"
"And who the hell are you, bitch?" the soldier asked, insulting the voice as Malik and Carlito opened the door without anyone noticing
"I am the 3rd princess of Britannia, Euphemia li Britannia." they heard the voice as both of Malik and Carlito noticed the revelation, including both the hostages and soldiers in the storage room
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" they see her asked Nina
"No." Nina said in amazement
All of a sudden, the JLF soldiers were shot down as they fell injured from the bullets on their arms and legs but nothing fatally. All the hostages screamed in fear once the bullets started flying, hitting the JLF soldiers. Fresh wounds as one of them tried reaching for their gun, only for it to be kicked away by Carlito. Harkov smiled as he stood up, catching everyone's attention as the hostages see the two masked figures walk over to him. Malik pulled a knife out and cut the ropes off of him as the old Russian relaxed a bit. All the hostages including Shirley, Milly, Nina, and Euphemia were more surprised than anyone.
"Took your time, I see." he said, smirking
"For the most part. Let's get moving." Malik said in his modulated voice as he and Carlito escorted Harkov
"Wait!" they stopped and turned to Euphemia
Carlito cocked his head in annoyance. "What do you want?" he asked with a modulated voice of his under his mask
"I ask that you take the rest of us." she pleaded
"You're not our concern, princess." Carlito pointed his thumb at Harkov. "We're just here for the old man."
"Someone will come get all you Britannians, eventually." Malik added
"Who are you?" Euphemia asked
"Call me Yasuke." Malik introduced himself as his nom de gerre, doing a light bow before he walked over to Euphemia. "I gotta admit, Princess. You surprise me. I figured you to be a spoiled and pampered brat who cared only about herself." he eyed her up and down, stopping one of bodyguard personnel from taking one of the JLF's gun with a glance as he looked to Euphemia. "But it turns out I was wrong. I'll tell you what, I'll take you to this Kusabe. As of good faith, but I expect to be paid."
"Very well."
Malik glanced over his shoulder at Carlito. "Lobo. You take the old man and go."
"You sure about this, boss?"
Malik glanced at Euphemia before looking back at Carlito. "Yeah. Go take the old man out of here. " he said as Carlito began escorting Harkov.
"What about the other hostages?"
"Non-negotiable." Malik pressed his gun at the injured Japanese soldier's temple. "Where's your leader?"
As expected, Malik began escorting Euphemia to Kusakabe after interrogating one of the wounded JLF soldiers. Truth be told, Malik didn't expect the Princess to be the VIP target as he thought it some noble or baron in high standing with Britannia. Euphemia looked as she did in her pictures from Britannia media based on what Malik had seen, pink hair and cerulean eyes. That is when the two hear gunshots near the room they were approaching, as Malik stopped Euphemia before he kicked the door in and gun at the ready. The guards were dead and Kusakabe joined the same fate by committing seppuku. In the midst of it all was the man who announced himself to the world, Zero. Malik lowered his gun as Euphemia walked past him.
"Zero?"
"I heard that you were the sub-viceroy now your Highness, Princess Euphemia li Britannia." Zero said
"It's not an appointment I'm happy with." Euphemia replied
"Due to my involvement in murdering Clovis. A well-deserved justice for a man who caused the manslaughter he ordered in Shinjuku, and in return was slaughtered the same way as the dead Elevens. He was a child of the Britannian Emperor." Zero pulled out a gun. "Come to think of it you are also a child, aren't you?"
"You don't plan on killing her." Malik spoke, interrupting the conversation. "Not now, at least."
Zero turned his attention to Malik. "And then there's you. An unknown quantity in the mix of all this mess. Who might you be? You're obviously not loyal to Britannia judging from the get up."
"I'm just a merc for hire. I go by the name Yasuke. Saw your work firsthand in Saitama."
'Saitama? So that was him.' Lelouch thought to himself. "So, it was you who hindered Cornelia's manhunt of me. Well, you certain got her attention."
"I didn't do it alone. Speaking of which..." Malik turned to Euphemia. "I brought you here. I expect that payment via dead drop."
"I wouldn't recommend it. After this is done, Cornelia will no doubt have people spring a trap for that deal you made with Euphemia." Zero stated. "And if she can put two and two together that you were the same one in Saitama who hampered her operation."
Malik leaned the gun by his shoulder and asked. "Then what do you suggest?"
"You'll work for me, and I will make sure you're compensated for your efforts." Zero replied
"I'll think on it with my team." Yasuke said. "In the meantime, you set up a number so we contact each other."
Zero wrote down a number for the two to do business, while Malik radoied Carlito and Harkov to meet them in the lower levels of the hotel. The raikou the JLF used was thwarted by the White Knight Knightmare, leaving Zero to detonate the charges set up inside the hotel thanks to his followers. While Malik and Carlito with Harkov were separated from Zero and the Britannian forces, on a different boat. They were now watching the news that showed Zero and his resistance fighters wearing black uniforms and blue visor glasses.
"People! Fear us, or rally behind us! We are the Black Knights! We of the Black Knights stand with those who have no weapons to wield. Regardless of whether they are Britannians or elevens. We will also fight for the sake of the weak who are hurt by the injustice of others or fight against those who use violence for their own selfish ends. The Japan Liberation Front cowardly took innocent Britannian citizens hostage, and mercilessly executed them all just to gain attention. It was a wanton, meaningless and unforgivable act, therefore they have been punished for it with their lives. Just as former Viceroy Clovis was for ordering a slaughter innocent eleven lives in Shinjuku. We could stand by no and allow such cruelty to be carried out, and so we made him pay for his actions. We will not repudiate battle on a fair and level field, but neither will we tolerate a one-sided massacre of the weak by the strong. The only ones who should die, are those who are prepared to be killed! Those with power, fear us! Those without it, rally behind us! We the Black Knights, shall be the ones who finally end the cycle of oppression, fight against all injustice, and stand in judgment of the world!"
Back in Britannia, a man with dark brown hair in a styled Britannian uniform watched the news of Zero and the debut of his Black Knights. His eyes stared with amusement as a long dark-haired woman with blue eyes appeared him. A girl no more than fifteen with pink hair and blue eyes also took notice as her and the raven-haired woman were in the same uniform more or less. He smiled as he got up from his couch.
"It appears we are heading to Area 11."
The two stared at him as the older queried. "Shouldn't we consult the Emperor about this?"
"He'll allow it, Mariel. We just need to bring one more Knight of the Round with us."
"Who?"
"Oh, Johnny!" a cheery female voice sang as the raven-haired girl looked at him with shock and dread
Mariel's expression turned to mere dread. "You mean you're bringing..."
"Ah, Nonette." John turned to see a woman with light green hair and blue eyes approach them. "Perfect timing. The three of us were planning on heading to Area 11 due to this new terrorist uprising."
She beamed with excitement. "I see. It'll be swell to see Nellie and Euphie again."
"Cornelia will be called away for some time before we even arrive, but Euphemia will no doubt be surprised to see you." John then smirked. "Think of it as a surprise, especially in Cornelia's case when she returns back to Area 11 after she's done with her operations against the EU."
Nonette grinned widely. "A surprise you say?" she wrapped an arm on Mariel. "Ready to put that little project you and your father had been working on, Mari?"
"The Guinevere is only a prototype, Nonette. As is Clara's Mark Nemo." Marial stated. "It is a prototype six-generation Knightmare she's capable of piloting after all."
The pink haired girl known as Clara walked toward the rest. "I'll pack my things."
"Splendid idea, my dear." Nonette replied, tagging along with Clara as Mariel and John were alone
"Why are you really going to Area 11?" she asked him
"To look for a potential candidate." John answered. "We've already looked everywhere and none of the candidates we interviewed held no such promise whatsoever. Area 11 might change that."
"You mean, you're looking for a new recruit to take your place?"
John merely chuckled. "Not at all. I'm looking for a new recruit to be a Knight of Seven."
"A new member of the Round seems hesitant. Do you really think we'll found a prime candidate in Area 11?"
John smirked. "Of course we will, Mariel. I think that Area 11 will have the right candidate we've been looking for and the precipice of a great change for us all."