Throne of Glass
Dayum. I am totally blown away by the amount of reviews for the previous chapter. Over sixty in total. That is a lot of waifu wars. Needless too say, I got a ton of very useful feedback, and I think I may just know what I plan to do in the future. So thanks for all the support!
Chapter 14: Hear me
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Ashford Tower; 2016 ATB
"Very well done Kallen, that was excellent."
Allen looked at her with an approving gaze that set the entire room into a better mood. Everyone had been sulking over the situation for a while now, and Allen's reaction to her success singlehandedly turned that around in an instant. "Thanks to you, we will be able to move on to the second phase of this plan without issue." He grinned somewhat manically, looking out to the assembled Black Knights. "All tasks have been cleared. Prepare to execute the operation."
There was a chorus of yessirs as the group scrambled to get ready for their mission. Lelouch was going to use the entire black ops team for this next phase. Both out of necessity and as a show of force. Either way, he wasn't about to screw this one up.
"Thank you...Allen." Kallen told him hesitantly. Since arriving back at the tower, or more like since leaving the OSI building, she was beginning to have doubts.
"You performed well, for being on your own." He replied to her thanks.
"It really wasn't so hard. Really everything was already planned out and everything." She explained, downplaying her own part.
"Either way, you did just as well as I had expected." He turned to the man standing behind her, away from the crowd and their gazes. "And you, Jeremiah. I must say I'm glad to have your help. You were just the man I needed."
"I..." Jeremiah looked around at all the members of his lord's organization, suddenly unsure of himself. "Thank you, sir. Though if you do not mind, I would like to discuss something with you privately."
The young blonde nodded in response. "Of course. Why don't you go get ready as well Kallen? I want everyone to be a part of this."
"Sure." The redhead replied before heading past them.
Lelouch took him to another room, one of the many briefing rooms that would soon be in constant use after what they were about to do. "So what do you need?" The boy asked.
"My apologies, my lord." Jeremiah started. "It suddenly occurred to me that your allies likely were not aware of your identity. So I was unsure if I should..." he trailed off, trying to find the right words.
"It's fine. You are correct though, only the older members of the Black Knights know who I am. Simply because they knew me before I created this persona. There are several among the black ops team as well, since I used my identity as a means of securing their loyalty. But that's no longer necessary, so I withhold it." Lelouch explained to him, leaning against the center table.
"I see. I appreciate knowing that I am entrusted with that secret." The older man said, even giving a slight bow.
Lelouch nodded to him. "I'm allowing it because you are useful to me now. Both in your position and with the knowledge you already possess. You already know enough that you can be given more tasks than most of my operatives. All that remains now is that you prove to me that I can trust you with such tasks."
"I...thank you, I swear to you that I will live up to your expectations." Jeremiah bowed again, lower and more forcefully.
"You and I are bound by the same goals Jeremiah. I have no reason to doubt your intentions now, but I promise you that I will not hesitate to remove you if you show any sign of hesitation." He told the bluenette.
In response Jeremiah violently shook his head. "I would not dare thinks twice milord. You have given me everything I have longed for in the past six years. Your ambitions are my law, and I will remain vigilant to them."
Lelouch watched the man with a keen eye. Everything he knew about people told him the man before him was a valuable asset. But long ingrained instinct refused to trust him completely. No one was without suspicion. And everyone was always kept at arms distance, suspended above the cliff face he treaded to reach his goal. And he was always ready to release his grip on them at a moments notice.
"And I hope that one day you will see me as your most loyal servant."
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Lelouch stood in his office, looking out the expansive windows onto the settlement below. To him, the city felt like the final enclosed bastion to overcome. Here he was, standing above every other building beneath him, and all the people below were nothing in comparison. Yet despite his field of view he still felt irritatingly out of his depth. The dozens of levels filled to the brim with the higher class citizens living their daily lives like ants escaping the sole of his boot. Japan was his, in every sense of the phrase. Millions of people were dependent on him for survival and ultimately leadership. Yet the place just beneath his feet escaped his grasp. He was so close, so close to securing every inch of soil that once belonged to the land of the rising sun. It had been his goal for years to slowly wrap the noose around their necks, gently squeezing his enemies ever tighter and tighter while they never even noticed there was no chance for escape. It was a plan that required patience and perseverance, of which he remained diligently steadfast toward.
He was not ready for this.
Yes, he was close; and yes, the outskirts of Area Eleven were nothing short of their own country at this point...but it wasn't enough. He had waited for six years, closing his grip on his claim. And now he felt like that time was being wasted. The Tokyo settlement was powerful, both in defense and in its stature. It represented Britannia in every way, and stood as a testament to the empire's might. Quite frankly, he was not enthusiastic with going to war against the settlement as it stood. Even with everything he had accomplished up until this point, sweeping over Tokyo in an all out assault would be costly. And after this mission, he would have no other choice. The Black Knights would be thrust into the spotlight of the entire world. Britannia would not sit Idly by and allow such a menace to exist. Cornelia, or some other threat would be dispatched to deal with him in due time. And with the Tokyo settlement still standing, it was the perfect foothold for his enemies to stand their ground in his territory. A fortress right on his doorstep.
He had wanted to seize control of the settlement subtlety, without so much as a shot fired. Well, one that no one would hear, at least. The plan was to turn that fortress into an inescapable trap. His opening move would be to deal with Clovis, then watch Cornelia waltz straight to her demise. From there he would have a clear shot at Britannia. Japan would be transformed into a war machine, their sights set on the empire that abused them for half a decade. He had even worked out allies in Europe so that he would have less to deal with when that time came.
But that wouldn't work out. He had no other choice. If the OSI cracked the information they had on him it would blow everything wide open. Ashford would fall in the blink of an eye. His support would crumble and the tight knit economy he cultivated would lose its entire foundation. His only option at that point would be to fall back to Narita and live out his days rotting in a cave until someone else came around and did his job for him. But even then Lelouch vi Britannia would be exposed as well. He wasn't even sure if the massive Japanese grunt army stationed there wouldn't run him through at that point either.
No, his only viable option was to quell the OSI entirely. This vulnerability was spread far too wide, and no longer able to be so easily repressed. He cursed that damned fool to hell and back for ruining his plans so thoroughly. He almost wished he hadn't slashed the man's throat so quickly out of anger, just so he could watch him suffer. Even still, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He was grateful a way forward was still available; he wasn't completely backed into a corner. There was no way in hell he would allow the incompetence of his own subordinates be his downfall. He wasn't done yet.
"I bet I can guess what's going through your head right now."
He didn't turn to greet the intruder, nor did he reply. He knew the voice well enough.
"You're worried this plan of yours won't work out the way you want it to. It isn't what you initially wanted, and you can't foresee the later consequences." The Japanese girl explained with a grin, coming to stand beside him, looking down on the same city.
The exile smirked, his eyes still downcast. "And I can say that you are wrong."
Kaguya raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh really?"
"I have every bit of confidence that this plan will work out the way I want it to. And I can see for the most part the obstacles now placed before me. There's just one in particular that bothers me." He revealed to her, looking right at said issue.
"Because you still haven't taken the settlement." She realized. "With it out of your complete grasp your sister can sit comfortably out of your reach, when she comes for a visit."
Lelouch nodded. "I know I shouldn't be wallowing in pity for what I wanted. I have no other options and this is still going to work out. But..."
"We are capable of liberating Japan, Lelouch." The young teen reassured him. "I know this isn't what you wanted but you need to stop doubting yourself. You have all the right cards to play and then some. Sure you might not have the grand master plan laid out the way you wanted it, but you have made ample contingencies to fall back on. You've made Japan strong enough to stand on its own, and Cornelia won't stand a chance against that." She grinned at him. "She won't even know what hit her."
Lelouch looked at her with mild surprise, a faint smile on his lips. "You're being awfully good natured aren't you?"
She just shrugged, looking off. But not before showing off a small white object in her hand. Lelouch simply shook his head upon seeing it. "So that's your game."
Kaguya's grin widened at his response. "No, it's your game. And I'm going to beat you at it."
The blonde just sighed. "Perhaps later...after we rid ourselves of this impending doom. I can't help but think of what would happen had they been able to decipher that data."
"Well look at it this way: if you take Cornelia head on and totally trash her than that just proves to the rest of the world you're not to be messed with. Heck, maybe even the Chinese Federation might be willing to align their interests. If not, at least they won't see you as an opportunity for themselves."
Lelouch smirked, looking away. "Maybe you're right. Either way I can picture them looking at us like a target. In a way Japan always has been. Had it not been Britannia it might have ended up a dominion of the Chinese Federation."
"Unfortunately, you're probably right." Kaguya agreed. "The old regime was confident that simply holding sakuradite over their heads would be enough to keep the world's powers at bay. In reality it just made them a bigger target. And they certainly weren't prepared for that backlash."
Lelouch nodded. "But this time, we will be."
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Kallen knew she was supposed to be preparing for their mission. Everyone else was either getting equipment together or going over plans and the like; but she couldn't concentrate on anything else. What she read at the OSI office was constantly grabbing at her attention, and she couldn't help but wonder what it meant. And moreover if it was actually true. Was Allen actually...? She needed to find out, if only to quell her own curiosity. But she's couldn't just up and question him. She had already spoken to him about it when he first told her in Europe. According to him Lelouch vi Britannia died in the pacific war. And she doubted that answer was going to change no matter how much she persisted. Allen wasn't the kind of person to ever give in to nagging.
So she resolved to ask the second best source. The message she read mentioned the Kururugi home. It made sense that a Britannian prince would be sent to the prime minister's home as a 'guest', more than anywhere else in Japan. And that's where Suzaku lived after all. She always wondered what the son of the prime minister was doing working with Allen after all, but this shed some light on the truth. Had they met six years before, and decided to work together? It made sense, at least. So instead of readying for their mission, she found herself in front of Suzaku's 'office' of sorts. He was more or less the unofficial captain of the black ops team. Allen trusted no one else to handle their affairs while he was away, which was quite frequent. She knocked before being told to enter, coming in to a plain room without any decorative furnishings. Like the rest of the Black Knights facilities at the tower the room was spartan in nature. They had no need for personal affects.
"What can I help you with Kallen?" The Japanese boy asked her, looking down at the finalized entry plans.
"I just...had a question I wanted to ask." She told him, unsure how to even ask it.
"A question for me?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "That's a surprise."
Kallen frowned at the comment. "What do you mean?"
The boy only shrugged. "Allen's the one better suited for answering questions you know. At least, I'd assume you know."
"Well, yeah." She looked down briefly. "But I'm pretty sure you're the only one I can get an answer from."
Suzaku smirked in response. "Well alright then. What's your question?"
"It's about something I found by accident yesterday." She began, thinking of how to best form her words. "There was another email I glanced at briefly. About the viceroy's investigation into prince Lelouch vi Britannia."
Suzaku looked at her with an unchanged expression, not revealing his thoughts. "I see."
"It mentioned that they looked into the Kururugi home during their search, and so I realized that you must have known him when he was in Japan before the war. So I guess I just wanted to know if you knew what happened to him." She took a deep breath, trying to find even the smallest sign in Suzaku's posture that he reacted to her explanation. But he had been around Lelouch long enough to at least know how to disguise one's thoughts. "Allen told me about him once before. About Marianne and what happened to her. I really don't think I would have given any thought otherwise, but I just wanted to find out more is all."
Suzaku watched Kallen silently for what felt like ages, all the while his stoney expression telling her nothing. Only making her more nervous. "I did know him actually." He finally said with a sigh. "He stayed at my home for several months following his mother's assassination, and before the war broke out. He was an insufferable little prick, to be honest...but, if it wasn't for him, I'd be dead."
Suzaku scratched the back of his neck, looking distant as if recalling something. "He saved my life from my own stupidity on more than one occasion, so for that I'd say he wasn't so bad after all. But honestly, I can't say I know what happened to him, Kallen. Whether he lived, or died...I can't say." He shrugged fiddling with the pencil he was using to write notes on his plans. "Sorry I can't tell you much more than that. There's a lot of people who've sought after the same answers you do, though I suppose that's actually the reason you even came to ask them yourself. Either way, there's nothing I can tell you. But you should probably get ready soon. I doubt it will be a very tough mission, but it's important nonetheless."
Kallen nodded, understanding the hint of dismissal. "Yeah, thanks anyway."
She turned away, retreating from the room and down towards her own quarters. All the while she repeated what he said in her mind.
"I can't say."
No you can't say can you? She thought. Because someone told you not to.
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Office of Secret Intelligence, Area Eleven Branch Office; 2016 ATB
From the grounds below the towering building, a figure stood cloaked in a coat that hid the jet black black he wore beneath it. He watched the skies above, the many lights in the settlement illuminating the night sky. In the distance he could see a flashing light floating nearer, a beacon of a new age, in a way. For it carried the catalyst for setting the stage of his grand scheme.
He picked up the briefcase beside him, and began to approach the building. With him, the shadows themselves seemed to converge on the tower; dozens of figures emerging from the darkness. He smiled, a triumphant grin that would send fear into the hearts of any that dared oppose him.
"Well then."
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The winds created from the rotating blades whipped the man's face as he watched the helicopter descend on to the rooftop. The vehicle bore no symbols as to its origin or affiliation, an unmarked black fuselage meant to be discreet. But he knew its purpose. The helicopter came to a landing, and the blades slowly came to a stop, just as the door opened in front of him.
And older man, with graying hair stepped from the passenger seat clad in a sharp suit. Beside him were two armed knights, who the man noticed were both of higher rank than he was. Shortly after the rest of the passengers stepped out, the other branch heads that worked directly under the director. He bowed to the man, and the rest of his staff behind him followed suit.
"Welcome, director." He greeted. The man only glanced at him in reply, his face stern. "It's a surprise to see you here sir."
"Of course I would come. These Black Knights have disrupted more than just Area Eleven at this point. They are responsible for interfering with military development after all." The director answered without stopping. He strode past the security detail on the roof, making his way into the building. The entire group of people present following him.
"Yes well, we are working hard to see that they are put to an end, sir. We are very close to-"
"I came here because I was told that you had already made a breakthrough with these fools, Ripley." Director Vincent glared at the man beside him.
"I beg your pardon sir? We have encrypted data we are working with, but it will take some time to break through." The other man, the head of the branch Michael Ripley.
"Then for what reason did you call me out here? I came to see an end to this mess, Ripley. Are you telling me I am wasting my time?" Vincent stopped, scowling at the other man.
"Sir I...do not understand. I did no such thing." Ripley insisted, cowering under his superior's gaze.
The director frowned, his anger slowly morphing into suspicion. "What do you mean?"
"I understood that you were coming for an inspection. That is what you told me." Ripely told him.
"What nonsense are you spouting? You were the one who-" he suddenly stopped, coming to realize that something was very wrong here. But by then it was far too late. He hadn't noticed until now that every guard he should have seen was nowhere to be found. The only ones around him were those present on the roof.
"Allow me to clear things up for you."
The director whipped around toward the source of the alien voice. But he reacted far too slowly. Silenced whirs around him felled the dozen guards in the room, and every other man save himself. In the blink of an eye he was surrounded by fresh corpses, and armed men in black armor. In front of him stood another with a different outfit. His armor was decorated with gold lining, and he wore a sort of cape attached to his shoulders. And his helmet resembled a king chess piece, its blue visor staring back at him.
"I thank you for answering my invitation director." The apparent leader spoke, his distorted voice the same as he heard moments earlier. "You are quite a prompt man."
"I see, so it was you who set this up." Vincent spoke, glancing at the dead around him.
"Indeed I was. And I am so glad you cooperated." The masked man replied.
"Who are you? What do you want here?" The director demanded, showing no fear.
"I am the leader of the Black Knights director. And I have come for something that was stolen from me." He answered with a bold declaration.
The old man narrowed his eyes. "You are their leader? I'm surprised, no one has heard even so much as a rumor about you, yet here you are in front of me. I'm honored."
"Please, it's the least I could do for a man such as you."
"I assume you want the data of yours we have? I didn't know it was that valuable." He asked. At this point, it was all he could do to stall for time until someone found out what was going on.
"I'll admit, you were one move away from checkmate director, but I was always there steps ahead of you." The masked man bragged, clearly showing off his victory.
"So that's it then? You lure me here and then what? What could you possibly hope to gain from this?" Vincent demanded, trying to learn what this man's goals were.
"In truth, I had wanted to retrieve my data from you without so much as a sound. But unfortunately it's now in so many places it's impossible to keep track. So if I can't surgically extract the disease, I have no choice but to purge the entire body." The man said with a sinister tone.
"You can't seriously expect to get away with this." He scoffed. "Much less escape even the situation you've placed yourself in now. I honestly can't understand how you managed to evade us this far. You elevens really are nothing more than brainless monkeys."
"You seem to misunderstand Director." The masked man declared, stepping toward him. "Whatever made you believe I was an eleven?"
He reached for his mask, slowly removing it before the director. The face he saw beneath it was one he would never have expected. "It can't be. Allen...Ashford?"
"Finish the preparations." The now revealed Allen commanded, his eyes never leaving his prey. "I'm going to have a talk with our friend here."
Director Vincent watched several of the black clad figures scramble out of the room, going off to do who knows what. All that he was thinking about was what the young man standing in front of him was there for. The blonde slowy approached him, his footsteps the only thing he could hear; before they were face to face. "I've waited a long time before I could speak to you like this." Allen told him, his cold eyes betraying nothing.
"What the hell are you trying to achieve? Don't you realize what you've gotten yourself into? What do you possibly hope to gain from all of this? Especially someone like you." The older of the two asked, genuinely incapable of comprehending the younger's reasons.
"For revenge, David Vincent. Against all of Britannia, and against you." He spoke darkly, seething venom in his voice.
"I'm afraid I don't follow." Vincent retorted, standing against the boy's impossibly intimidating figure.
"Of course you don't. I'd be ashamed at myself if you did. So let me clarify for you: six years ago you attempted to have me killed." He revealed, his eyes narrow and icey cold.
"What are you even talking about? I didn't even know you existed until a few months ago." He rebutted, annoyed at the foolish claim.
"You people killed my mother, and my sister." Allen spoke again. "You made it look like terrorists but I always knew. You filth tried to erase my family, you tried to take everything away from me. So I will ask you this only once; who ordered the death of Marianne vi Britannia?"
Vincent's eyes widened as everything suddenly came crashing down, the truth unraveling before him. "You...you're..."
"Answer the question." Allen...no, Lelouch spat, leaning in toward him.
"I will tell you nothing." He answered defiantly. The exiled prince glared at him a moment before backing away.
"I expected as much from you. Not that it really matters, I believe I've already come to my own conclusion anyway. Regardless though..." he placed his helmet back into his head, and his voice became distorted once more. "You are no longer useful to me alive."
He turned toward a camera that had been setup during their conversation. The director frowned at the sight, confused at what he saw
"We're ready sir." The one working the camera said.
The prince nodded, and cleared his throat. He faced the camera as the director was suddenly dragged below it in front of Lelouch. "Citizens of Area Eleven. Both Britannian, and Japanese alike. I, am Zero."
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Viceroy's Palace; 2016 ATB
It had been a rather normal, and uneventful day thus far. Nothing had occurred in quite some time. With both the Black Knights, and the varying groups that had been breathing down his neck for the last few months. But all that changed rather abruptly.
"My Lord! You have to see this!" Bartley came bursting into the room without warning, breathing heavily.
"What is the meaning of this Bartley? Don't you know I want some peace right now?"
The larger man turned on the TV in his office without saying a word, and switched it until it showed the image of a masked man, standing in front of a group similarly dressed. Outfits that had been well described recently.
"I, am Zero."
Clovis' eyes suddenly widened. "What?!"
"Before you are the elite members of the organization I lead. Known to you as the Black Knights."
"Who the hell is this?!" Clovis exclaimed. "Just what was going on?
"Until now our mission has been to protect the weak and innocent from those who would seek to harm them, and abuse their inability. The Holy Britannian empire has abused its power. It preys upon the helpless under the teachings of its emperor. All men are not created equal, yes. For the strong are given their power to aid those beneath them. That is why we exist. But the battle we wage cannot be won as we are now. And so now we shall attack our foes, and turn the tide of this war." The camera shifted to reveal a older man on his knees before 'Zero.'
"The Britannian Office of Secret Intelligence is responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent lives. Both those who threatened their system, and those who dared speak out against it. The one before you is Director David Vincent, the man who allowed these heinous crimes to persist, even going so far as to order many himself. For these acts this man will pay with his life."
He raised a gun to his captive's head, and Clovis' breath caught in his throat.
"Hear me, Charles zi Britannia, the world you have created is a vile, deplorable one. The people you have bread are on a path to self destruction. I will set the world on the right path. And I will repair the damage you have caused." He looked down, his mask catching the light. "David Vincent. When you strike first, you must shoot to kill. And be prepared for the consequences should you fail."
The barrel was level with the back of the man's skull, and time itself seemed to freeze in that moment.
"I am those consequences. And I will not fail."
Then in an instant, a gunshot was heard, the body collapsed; and a massive explosion rocked the very foundation of the Tokyo Settlement.
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And also, feel free to continue to add your input on best gril, or anything for that matter. I am more than happy to shape this story if you guys offer great opinions. A great bulk of the story had already been fleshed out, but there are already tons of little things you guys have suggested that really stuck out to me, both from this last chapter and even before that. So thanks again, and seriously, please review, that last chapter was friggin awesome.
Oh, and to the few who would rather not see a paring at all, i'm not really doing this for the sake of 'romantic fluff' or anything. Our lucky winner as it will, will play a big role in Lelouch'a development as a character, both in ways more obvious to readers, and in ways you might not see coming. Hopefully I can satisfy many off you with what I have planned, cause I'm pretty sure it's the best path for this story.