IN SEARCH OF AN ANSWER
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Sun.
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How long have I not felt the sun? How long has it been since I felt the heat of this bathing my body? How long has it been since I could feel the light illuminating my sight once more?
I feel like it's been an eternity since I stopped to admire the sun, it's been a long time since I've felt the light of the sun once more.
Now that I'm out of Black Glint, I was able to feel the sun again on my body, how it relaxed me once more in its kind embrace, I took a deep breath. Trying to enjoy this feeling.
But that sensation that he sought to treasure so much vanished instantly, all due to the smell of war, you see. Wars have a characteristic odor that many say it does not have.
But that I know if it has a particular smell. The smell of war is dust, followed by fire, followed by gunpowder, then blood, and finally blood, ending with the smell of corpses.
Corpses which are surrounding the Black Glint and me right now. Right now I'm outside the Black Glint, right over its head, admiring the view and the feel of the sun surrounding my body.
A luxury I couldn't have followed back home, the pollution that afflicted the world was such that you could barely see the sun's rays, the radiation clouds that hovered in the atmosphere and the sandstorms made it impossible for you to see the only.
Only if you were lucky enough to live in the cities of heaven could you see what the sun and the moon were like, the only time I could see the sun was when I decided to end it all. But I failed in that attempt. And now I am here.
Now I am in what seems to be the center of this city, the remaining forces that I engaged in combat not long ago, were eliminated, those who managed to flee did so with their tails between their legs. Like deer running from a predator. Meeting on the outskirts of the city and at the docks.
Ready for an emergency withdrawal from what I think, it seems that I forced them all to leave this damn place, what a fucking fortune for the people of this place. I don't doubt that this is why the people of this place decide to hire me to fight their war for them.
Back to what he was before, a mercenary hired to do the dirty work of the corporations.
My eyes took in the place around me, an area that used to appear to be a park, but is now completely barren of any plant life, dirt raised from the ground, bullet casings scattered on the ground, the ruins of the NORMALS flooding area. With crimson pools pouring out of the many holes in these.
I can see how the rivers of clotted blood created paths that led to a lake, which is polluted by all the blood of the dead that adorn this dead place.
A paradise turned into hell in less than a few minutes... it seems that no matter where it is, death always stalks everyone.
The footsteps of someone walking through the pools of blood caught my attention, I directed my gaze down, seeing that one of the Tohdoh soldiers, who was doing his best not to vomit, was walking towards my direction.
He had felt his mind for a few minutes, he could feel that the mind of this young soldier was terrified, by the massacre that had just occurred in this place, by the number of deaths and the destruction that he unleashed on what was once, a beautiful and peaceful park.
I could also feel a particular thought, one that is not so far from who I really am. And that thought is about me, how he sees me right now.
How he doesn't see a human, how he only sees me… As a Monster.
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And they know that... he's right.
… all of them.
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Deciding to spare him the desire to unleash his vomit all over this cursed cemetery, he yelled at the soldier "what are you looking for, soldier?"
The soldier froze in place as he tried to keep walking, afraid of me he raised his head slowly, until his eyes met my head still covered by my pilot helmet.
The soldier wasn't sure whether to open his mouth or not, terrified with the prospect that he would become another of the victims in this cemetery, just for speaking to me.
Something I don't have time to deal with "well… are you going to talk or not?"
"Ah-ah, Mr. Black Glint, h-he, Commander Tohdoh wishes to see you at the capitol!" He said that last word screaming, completely terrified of me, I could hear his body trembling with fear that completely overwhelmed him.
This soldier is starting to feel sorry for me, pity would be more suitable for this situation. These soldiers are supposed to be here to defend their home from any invasion, internal or external, and this one here trembles with fear at the sight of me.
I may be considered a monster by many, but that doesn't take away the fact that I can bleed, I'm not as human as the rest, but I do have blood. Which means I can bleed and die... it's just a matter of knowing where to attack me properly.
I stared at the trembling soldier for a few long and silent seconds, I didn't do it with the aim of instilling more fear in the soldier, but with the aim of seeing how long it would take for him to collapse.
And it seems that this soldier is on the verge of collapse, I bet he will collapse on the floor completely drenched in the now clotted blood, he will get infected with a virus if I don't pick him up.
Letting out a sigh, I reply to the soldier "fine...I'll go for there" I get up from Black Glint's head, and walk towards the hatch of the Back Glint's cabin, I open the hatch again pressing a button that was still next to the hatch.
The hatch opens, revealing the interior of the cockpit, I quickly climb down to get back into the machine, sitting back in my seat and reconnecting to the Black Glint via my link as LYNX, the NEXT responding to my control came on dimly little by little
Until after a few seconds he was connected to the NEXT, feeling everything Black Glint felt, the Black Glint's head turned to the soldier, who apparently peed his pants in fear. Black Glint's crimson eyes are certainly scary. Everyone had told me that they were scary, to change them, because sometimes they could feel like they were following them. Even when my NEXT was deactivated.
I never have and I never will, I want my opponents to tremble in fear at the sight of Black Glint's eyes.
Black Glint walks to where the pilot is, who was frozen in fear, the Black Glint's feet were stained with the rotten blood that was on the ground. But that didn't slow me down.
Once I was in front of the soldier, I crouched down the Black Glint, putting him on his knees and offering my hand to carry him "get up soldier, if you don't want me to leave you in this place"
The soldier was incredulous at my gesture, I could feel through my psychic abilities that he did not believe this gesture from me. This kind gesture come from a monster.
I'm not really doing it out of kindness, it's more out of pity to see how the soldiers in this place break so easily under the pressure generated by this war.
If they really want to survive in this world, they have to become cold, calculating and show no mercy against those who wish their destruction. Adapt and survive, that is the rule of life.
I waited for the soldier to climb onto my hand, it was necessary to wait a minute for him to abandon all doubt and climb onto my hand, once I secured the soldier in my hands, I rose into the air.
The burners with the blue flames lifted me up from the ground, burning the blood that continued to accumulate on the ground, Black Glint turned to where the capitol is .
And with a single thought we began to fly directly towards the capitol.
Let's see what Tohdoh has to tell me now.
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Now standing on the roof of the government building, Tohdoh can now see the damage that the previous invasion of the empire forces caused to this beautiful city.
The streets and buildings were completely ruined with bullet holes, collapsing in on themselves, fires from the wreckage of Knightmares or tanks creating dark plumes of smoke. Which covered the radiant sky, giving a gloomy sight to anyone looking at the sky.
This city, your city. Once fair and beautiful, now it lies in ruins, all because of the might of the empire.
Tohdoh curses Britannia for this, he curses them all for invading his home. He knew that a Britannian invasion would come soon, but he never imagined things would come to this. The empire's new war machine is certainly the key to why Britannia is winning right now.
They gave the empire the upper hand at the beginning of this invasion.
...but now, it's their turn to hit back.
They just have to convince the Monster to help them oust Britannia.
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And speaking of monsters.
Tohdoh watches as the Black Glint flies through the air towards him, carrying something in its hand that he cannot see clearly. It didn't take long to get there, at most about 40 seconds to get to where he is, descending into the courtyard of the capitol.
The grass that was in the yard stirred by the arrival of Black Glint, the burners that kept it in the air went out, touching the ground and leaving huge footprints in the ground. The Black Glint then knelt down, lowering his hand and allowing a self defense forces soldier to get off the Black Glint without any problem.
It's about time Tohdoh met this Monster head on.
With that in mind, Tohdoh started walking towards the stairs of the building.
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I climbed back out of the Black Glint's hatch, sealing it again with a security code it has equipped, in case any of the toy soldiers in this place decide to break in and take Black Glint. I'm not worried about them getting into the cabin, they need a key that only I know and no one else. Besides, I highly doubt they can get on the Black Glint without falling off in the process.
I climb down from the Black Glint's chest, holding on to the edges and various openings to safely climb down from the Black Glint, a path I have taken many times.
Once I was a safe distance from the ground I dropped down, landing softly on the grassy ground , looking around to see the onlooking soldiers. Which can only watch in amazement and fear at the Black Glint.
Many of the soldiers' thoughts are mainly of my NEXT, some mistake him for some kind of black knight, or some kind of monster from the mind of some lunatic.
I'm more surprised that people think my Black Glint is some kind of dark vigilante knight. I had never thought of it that way, I only saw Black Glint as my NEXT, the only thing in which I could completely trust, the thing that would never betray me in life.
I look at the soldier which I had brought with me, he trembled with fear, surely the first time that soldier is separated from the ground. I want to ask you something "soldier"
The soldier who was shaking half turned to look at me, I could see the pallor on his skin, he almost looked like a ghost "e-eh yes sir?"
"Apart from Tohdoh, who else requested my presence in this place"
"ahm…ah I think it was the prime minister, Genbu Kururugi, sir" the soldier replied.
Aah. It seems that the most important person in all of Japan loves me. I already know where this is going. I knew this would happen, just not anytime soon.
Letting out a sigh, I look at the soldier, as I start to take off the pilot helmet that I have on my head "thank you then soldier..." after a few more seconds, I finally take off my helmet, revealing my face for the first time to this new world.
My short dark colored hair slightly fluttered in the air, my orange colored eyes looked at every soldier around me who saw my face for the first time, which is a 24-year-old.
Everyone's thoughts instantly changed, now all the thoughts of all the surrounding soldiers are about me now. Surprised to see me for the first time. To see how such a young person is able to kill so many people and not seem disturbed.
… heh.
If they knew everything I went through, then they would know that things like killing a few hundred soldiers is minor compared to everything I experienced back home.
Tohdoh's mind comes within my reach, I turn to see him. He is walking towards me, with that Katana that he still holds on his belt, surrounded by several soldiers with vests and rifles in hand. My escort group I want to imagine.
Tohdoh who sees me for the first time without the helmet doesn't overreact. But I can feel surprise thoughts in his mind.
I look at Tohdoh at his narrowed eyes and say "Tohdoh"
He nods, then tells me "that's how you are then Black Glint"
"That's right" I look at the soldiers, inspecting them in detail. They are soldiers who are ready to kill me if necessary "... I guess they are our escort group... right?"
Tohdoh nods "that's right, follow me... Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi wants to see you"
I nod and say "fine... let's go then" the group took the lead, showing me the way to where the Prime Minister of Japan is, I start to follow their lead.
We enter the government building, going into the ruined corridors of this place, I can see that the windows of this building are being fortified with sandbags and machine guns. Ammunition stands are in the corridors, with boxes and boxes full of bullets and weapons.
I can feel this happening throughout the building, all the windows were being prepared for a possible future attack. An attack that won't happen anytime soon, the massacre I did earlier made it very clear what I'm capable of. In addition, his forces are depleted. Leaving them as easy prey for me.
I could easily fly towards them and eliminate them. It's so easy to do, I just have to pull the trigger and all those Britannians and NORMALS pilots will be dead instantly.
…but before I play the big bad wolf, I have to fix this fog these guys have against me. My massacre earlier caused the fear of the Japanese against me.
I can fight well outside of my NEXT, in fact I'm more than capable of taking out a whole well-armed group, but that doesn't mean I can deal with a whole fucking army.
We went to an elevator which is behind the reception desk, the door was open. Full of boxes, weapons and various devices to defend this building, we entered the elevator, with me being at the bottom of this metal box, surrounded by the soldiers and with Tohdoh in front of me.
Tohdoh presses an elevator button, the door closes, and he begins to lower us to wherever he 's taking us.
While we wait to reach our destination I ask Tohdoh "you know Tohdoh, in this type of situation I would feel flattered, but I can't do it because of the environment that surrounds us"
"Heh...why do you think they act this way then, Black Glint" Tohdoh says without turning to look at the LYNX.
"It's part of the Tohdoh job, that's how things are in war, your men should learn that very quickly" That wasn't a question, it was more of a statement.
Tohdoh looking at me out of the corner of his eye tells me "if we don't show mercy to our enemies, we won't be so different from them than we are now"
I tell him "Tohdoh… in war mercy, along with justice and truth, are the first to die. They don't plan to show mercy to you either, I'm just showing you the consequences of your actions."
"You could have at least shown them mercy," Tohdoh replied.
"…would you have shown mercy if you were in my place?"
"..."
"... I thought so" with that concluded this little debate.
We stayed in a tense silence, nobody said anything and didn't even want to say. The soldiers at my sides had many things to say on their minds, but they are the same rubbish of showing mercy to my enemies.
Something I really don't have the time to deal with.
The elevator door opened, revealing a metal hallway with lights illuminating the silver metal walls of this bunker. People in white T-shirts and formal suits hurried down various side aisles.
I could sense around 50 minds in this place, 30 of those minds seem to be important people, the minds of the guards around are 17. And last but not least, the 3 minds of the children, who seem to be in a closed room.
Tohdoh taking the lead tells me "come on, the prime minister is waiting for us" the other two guards got out of the elevator as well. I waited about two seconds and got out of the elevator following Tohdoh and the guards wherever they were heading.
As we walked down the hall, to my right I could see a group of people who seem to be operating through various radio channels and maps. I was able to hear through my enhanced senses as a LYNX that all of these people were high-ranking officers in the military and important politicians.
All of them coordinating with various people in the region or outside the region, surely the politicians try to get outside help. The military tries to organize a better defense against the sudden wave of invaders.
We walk for a long time, until we reach an armored door with a code panel, Tohdoh stands in front of the panel, typing the numbers to open this armored door.
After Tohdoh placed the codes, the door started to open, the guards grabbed the door handles and pulled, allowing only me and Tohdoh to enter. Once inside the room the guards close the door. Locking us once more in this room.
In front of me you could see a wooden table, with a computer attached to it and a flashlight on it, on top of it you could see a red rug, but none of that was important.
What mattered were the men behind the table. The first of the two is a man who is around 60 years old, hairless, with black pupils and slightly tanned skin, wearing a black and white Japanese robe.
The other man who was sitting in the chair, possibly around 50 years of age, with brown hair and emerald eyes like the boy named Suzaku. With a brown suit, a white shirt under it and a red tie.
The brown-haired man, with his hands folded on the table, tells me "... so, you're the one to call Black Glint, we'd like to talk about business... if you'll allow it"
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Heh.
Straight to business right ?
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Lelouch sighed in relief after putting Nunnally to sleep, he slowly left the room to allow Nunnally to rest from all the events that happened today.
Once outside the room, he allowed himself to draw a tired sigh, to then slide from the door in which he is leaning, until he ended up on the floor, grabbing his knees in a fetal position.
Things have not been easy for him either. Nothing has been easy since they came to Japan, but at least they aren't as complicated as they used to be when they were in Britannia.
But now, things are a mess.
"Lelouch?" Lelouch, listening to his friend's worried voice, turned to see him, Suzaku finds himself with a bandage wrapped around his head, they had treated his friend once he suffered that blow to the head.
"hey Suzaku… how are you?" Lelouch asked.
"Fine… I'm fine, recovering, but fine… how is Nunnally?" Suzak asked.
Lelouch nods his head "yes... yes, she's fine... now she's sleeping, resting from everything that just happened"
"... I see" Suzaku answered, he stood looking at Suzaku, and then he walked close to him and sat next to his friend "..."
"..."
"... how are you Lelouch?" Suzak asked.
Lelouch sighs and says "I... I don't know, I guess I'm fine, with everything that's happened I feel... fine"
"... aha, Lelouch, we're friends, I've known you since you came here, and I can tell you for sure that you're not well right now" Suzaku told him seriously.
Lelouch didn't answer anything after that question, it took about 30 seconds for Lelouch to let out a sigh "I know... I know, it's just... it's just that Nunnally has dealt with a lot, and all of it just being a kid. 4 years old and I… feel like I'm losing control Suzaku"
"Yes I can see that"
"and HA! The empire that my sister and I belonged to is now trying to kill us! The same empire that I once considered home! The empire that failed to protect my sister and mother now wants us dead! Ha ha!" Lelouch's hysterical curls made Suzaku a bit uncomfortable in the process.
"Yeah…" Suzaku sighs suddenly "…things haven't been easy since all this invasion started" Suzaku said "I never thought that this would really happen, I always…I always thought that none of this would happen, that the invasion of my home was just a lie… but… but now, it's happening"
"Yes... Suzaku me, I'm sorry... I'm really sorry about this friend" Lelouch began to wail suddenly
Suzaku turns to see Lelouch and asks him "Lelouch, you are not to blame for this friend... I mean, of course they are your nation... but you are not responsible for this Lelouch... I guess we could blame your father for this"
"Yes... my father" replied Lelouch annoyed.
"..." Suzaku suddenly fell silent, knowing how sensitive the subject of his father and his family is.
"…you know Suzaku…sometimes, I wish I could destroy Britannia…make them pay for everything we're passing at their hands…for everything they did to my sister and…my mother" Lelouch said suddenly, his thoughts dark and revenge began to fill his mind.
Not only because of the desire to have answers for the murder of his mother, not only because they have made his sister suffer in these last hours.
No.
Lelouch now wishes to have revenge and justice for what has been happening at this time, justice for the land where he and his sister have been accepted. Justice for the invasion they have been suffering.
No.
The correct word for what is happening right now is not justice.
It's more like… Revenge
Revenge for all the evils that Britannia is causing right now, for denying him the answers to the reason for his mother's death, revenge for all the chaos that he and his sister have been experiencing.
Revenge.
That's what Lelouch wants now, he wants revenge.
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"...Suzaku" Lelouch suddenly said, drawing his friend's attention.
"... yes Lelouch" Suzaku answered back.
"… I want revenge against the empire"
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IN SEARCH OF AN ANSWER
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"IT'S A DAMN FUCKING INCOMPETENT!"
The Chief Officer could only cringe at the roar of his superior, who is the commander of this entire group that is in this part of the region. Who is furious about the failure of the domination of the capital of this cursed island.
Right now in the office of the chief leader of the command center, he is frozen in place, not moving a single muscle in his body. Receiving verbal punishment from his superior.
The commander, being a man in his 40s, with gray hair in a knight's uniform, could only watch with a full scowl on his face. To the chief leader of the command center with complete hatred "EXPLAIN! HOW THE FUCK IS HE LOSING OVER 230 KNIGHTMARES UNDER HIS COMMAND!"
The chief leader, sensing the strength, behind his commander's words could only stutter "M-m-sir... I, I did everything I could... n-we didn't know."
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR DAMN EXCUSES! I HAD A TASK! ONE DAMN TASK! NOW YOU PUT THIS ENTIRE INVASION IN DANGER BECAUSE OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE!"
The chief leader could only hang his head in embarrassment at this sudden development. They weren't supposed to take that many casualties, it was supposed to be fast. Not that they suffered so much in the first hours of the invasion.
But the sudden appearance of that…
That…
That!
THAT DAMNED BLACK KNIGHT!
EVERYTHING WAS GOING AS PLANNED WHEN THAT DAMN MACHINE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE! WHAT WAS THAT THING AND WHAT WAS IT SUPPOSED TO DO IN JAPAN! THERE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT DAMN THING!
DAMN THAT ABOMINATION!
The chief leader, having already swearing inwardly vented, prepared to tell the commander his proposal. Which is most likely to be rejected instantly upon hearing the first word that comes out of your mouth.
But what else do you have to lose now?
"Mister!"
"THAT!"
"… I would like to ask permission to be part of the second wave of invasion! Mister!"
"DO YOU REALLY THINK I WILL SEND YOU BACK IN COMMAND OF ANOTHER GROUP! AFTER THE DISASTER THAT CAUSED!" His commander raged at him in response to his request. A foolish superior officer who thinks he can redeem himself by entering the battlefield.
"MISTER! Please! Allow me this! I swear I will never fail you again! My Lord!"
"YOU ARE SO DESPERATE TO TAKE BACK YOUR HONOR! THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE! JUST BECAUSE YOU RUINED IT! SILLY!" the commander spattered the screen with saliva, for every time he opened his mouth.
"MISTER! Allow me this, allow me to deal with this threat that threatens our invasion! If I fail, I will officially sign my official resignation from the army!"
"…" the commander is silent by the officer's words. Uncertain whether he should order this fool to be apprehended or whether to accept his suicidal request.
Right now this officer has no value right now, he is just someone who has just lost everything, by rushing too fast for an early victory.
In the commander's opinion, he doesn't deserve to waste even more time with this fool...
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But the idea of being able to get rid of that fool is really tempting.
So tempting that now she's going to accept this jerk's request.
":..Okay, you will be able to assist in the second attack wave…they will dock on the shores near the capital, you will be with the first attack squad! And if you're lucky you'll meet that damn machine head on! IF YOU DARE COME BACK WITHOUT HIS DAMN HEAD! I'LL TAKE YOURS!" Communications between the two were cut off instantly.
The chief leader, with a look filled with insane determination and anger, told the two soldiers in front of him "…prepare a transport to travel… now "
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IN SEARCH FOR AN ANSWER
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FINALLY.
I WAS ABLE TO POST IT
I apologize in advance for all the time it took me to publish this chapter, I was more focused on my university work than on this.
But don't worry, I think I'll be back to posting like before soon.
I hope you liked it, also it is an honor to know that many people have been liking what I write. I promise that I will try to maintain the same level of quality that you are liking.
Thanks for your support. Thank you very much, really, I mean it.
Without further ado, see you next time.