"We have the Japan Liberation Front on the run due to your attack, Viceroy. Without a stable fortress, it should be easy to snuff out any remaining survivors."
"Are you trying to mock me?!" the viceroy spat at the officer, "That was no victory! Not only is it confirmed that Zero is alive, but now he has some sort of gigantic Knightmare on his side?! It should be absolutely impossible!"
The annoying bureaucrats kept on spewing ridiculous excuses, but Cornelia could barely listen to them. That battle hadn't gone according to plan at all! She had gone into the fight, confident that victory would be hers over the Japan Liberation Front. She never would've expected something like a giant Knightmare mech to fall from the sky and nearly wipe them out in minutes. Not only that, but its interference had given a majority of the JLF's leadership time to escape, along with the Black Knights. What stung her the most, however, was that Black Lion Knightmare she had faced had not only beaten her but had completely disrespected and humiliated her. She was going to make the pilot of that machine pay dearly for his actions!
"Viceroy, if I may," Euphemia spoke up timidly.
"What is it?" Cornelia hoped she didn't sound too impatient and angry towards her sister.
"Well, it's just, I was wondering, but it's possible this isn't a Knightmare at all. At least, not an Earth-made one, according to Earl Asplund. He ran the data the Lancelot received in its fight through every metal compound and alloy he could think of. None of them was a match."
"Sub-viceroy, are you actually suggesting that those machines were sent by extraterrestrial life?" an officer asked very skeptically.
"I know it's strange to admit this, but I wouldn't rule out that possibility just yet," Guilford spoke up, causing many of the ministers and officers to look his way. "Think about when that Blue Lion was first seen, over two months ago. It happened right before Zero disappeared. After it was initially spotted, we weren't able to locate it since then, even with our informants or the most advanced tracking capabilities. But when you throw in the factor of alien life, it oddly makes sense. It's possible that that Knightmare, and Zero for that matter, couldn't be found because they weren't even on Earth at the time. Also, in that video message we saw the other day, he specifically called that robot, Voltron, the 'Defender of the Universe.'"
"As fantastic as it sounds," Darlton said, "it's certainly a possibility."
Cornelia scoffed, "If that is the case, why on Earth would Zero involve aliens, of all things, into our affairs? And besides, this move has been his boldest one yet. It could give the Chinese Federation or the EU the push they need to launch their own attack."
"Vice-minister," Dalton spoke up, cutting off the bureaucrats' mutters of confusion and fear with a pointed look, "internal affairs has appointed a special group of Elevens to sub-govern these areas, isn't that right? A group that is called the N.A.C. When we stormed Narita, we looked for evidence of the N.A.C's conspiracies. But it was buried in the wreckage." Darlton turned to face his princess, "Still, our suspicions remain high… if we suppress them now…"
Cornelia nodded, "Hmm, a group of bluebloods and plutocrats…" she muttered, looking down in thought, "Relics of their dismal past…"
"Wait, please! These are just rumors, there's no evidence of that at all," one of the aids stood up. Still, he gulped under Cornelia and Darlton's gazes, so he grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his head. "If you suppress them, then the Elevens' economy will certainly collapse. That means no tax revenue to send to the Homeland. Also, it's a prime directive of the Empire that Numbers should take care of their own kind."
"And what have you done to find Zero or that Voltron abomination?" Cornelia shot back, annoyed.
"Well we-," the aid stuttered as footage of the Lions appeared on their screens, alongside a list of Britannians that died during the battle. And the list was not short, "We managed to obtain samples from some of the wreckage left behind, but that's it so far. We can't squeeze information out of corpses."
"So you can't catch Zero, and you don't want us to hit Kyoto," Cornelia mused, "Do you know the word 'incompetent,' Minister? It's for people who can't get results."
"Either way, Zero directly challenged the Emperor in that last video message," Guilford said gravely. "All we can do now is wait for his Majesty's response."
Cornelia scowled but nodded. Nothing to do now but wait.
"So the Britannian Viceroy has gone this far already…" A figure noted as he and several older men sat seiza-style around a fireplace as they discussed the latest chain of events.
"With the Japan Liberation Front nearly smashed, the last embers of Japan have almost died away."
"Wait, they may be on the run, but General Katase and Tohdoh are still strong! Still fighting!"
"Even if that's so. I heard he lost his custom Burais, so there's no hope."
"There is hope." A fifth voice corrected, this one much younger than the others. They turned to face the speaker, a young girl with black hair and bright emerald eyes. She was sitting behind a screen, smiling at them.
"The Black Knights?" the fourth voice muttered, sounding both skeptical and disbelieving as he stared at the speaker, "You've been infatuated with Zero since he rescued Suzaku Kururugi."
"Yes, but of those Knightmares that rained down on Narita. It would be foolish not to take full advantage of them. The Britannian army stood little to no chance!"
"Perhaps, but will they answer a summons if we send one?"
"If they truly wish for the freedom of Japan, they have no reason not to. Also, it could be just the test they need to confirm their true loyalty…"
"I'll be honest, that went a lot smoother than I thought it would," Suzaku said as he, Lelouch, and Allura met on the bridge.
"As I told you, they trust Kallen, and if Kallen trusts us, then the Black Knights have reason to as well," Lelouch said with a small, proud smile. He was still dressed fully in his Zero uniform, but his mask was held at his side. Currently, the Black Knights were settling into the castle and being given a tour by Kallen, with Coran and C.C supervising.
"I do agree with you, though. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily they took the information in."
(Two days previous)
Voltron dispersed upon getting in view of the castle, and the Lions landed safely in each of their bays.
"Hey, uh, Lulu, quick question. Is it safe to have our helmets off when we meet the Black Knights?" Shirley asked.
"Don't worry about that, Shirley," Kallen answered before he could, "I'll put a good word in."
"O-Okay if you say so."
"Well, come on! We're keeping them waiting!" Rivalz exclaimed impatiently.
With a chuckle, Lelouch exited Zenobia and made his way to the bridge with the other Paladins. Upon entering, Tamaki was just coming out of his fainting spell. Which meant he was the first to spot them.
"Wh-hey! What are Britannians doing here?" he shouted, shaking the other Black Knights out of their shocked stupor enough to notice them.
"Hey, isn't that Kururgi?" Sugiyama asked, spotting Suzaku.
"I recognize you two," Inoue said, glancing at Milly and Shirley, "you were hostages at Kawaguchi!"
"Wait a minute," Minami realized after he got a good look at them, "you-you're all those Ashford students. The ones that went missing two months ago!"
"Yep, that's us!" Milly said with a small smile, though her demeanor and sweat on her forehead showed how nervous she was. Rivalz awkwardly waved next to her.
"Kallen, what's going on?" Ohgi asked sternly. None of the Black Knights looked very happy to see that most of the Paladins in front of them were Britannians. They hadn't even noticed that Zero was standing calmly in the back.
"Ohgi, everyone, don't!" Kallen exclaimed, stepping to the front of the Paladins and holding her arms wide in front of them. "These are my friends. I've been with them, and Zero, the entire time. I trust them, so please, give them a chance."
"We're here to help you," Rai said, coming up next to Kallen, "we're not like the Emperor. We don't want anything to do with that scumbag!"
"Yeah…" Shirley said with a sad frown, "Zero told us what life is like for all of you. And... I'm so sorry! If that's really how you're treated, and the Emperor is encouraging it, we don't want anything to do with it!"
"Yeah, what she said!" Rivalz agreed, holding a raised fist. "No way can I follow a lunatic like that! I just wish we realized it sooner."
"...All right, Kallen, we'll trust you," Ohgi eventually said. Most of the Black Knights calmed down upon hearing this. Tamaki folded his arms with a pout, but he didn't protest.
"I assume you all have questions," Zero said, stepping forward once Kallen lowered her arms.
"Questions?" Ohgi asked incredulously, giving a short laugh, "Well, wha-where, do I even start?"
"You're free to ask anything you wish," Coran asked, "we'll answer to the best of our abilities."
"Okay, well…" Ohgi took a second to gather his thoughts, the rest of the Black Knights staring at him intently, "I guess… you called that robot 'Voltron,' so what exactly is that?"
"Voltron, he's known as the Defender of the Universe," Zero explained, "The warrior himself is made up of seven lions. The same ones that you saw back at Narita. Princess Allura's father, King Alfor of Altea, was the one that originally built the Lions. And they certainly aren't Knightmares. Calling them such things would be insulting."
"The Lions themselves choose the pilots," Allura explained, "by mirroring the quintessence of the pilot with the Lion, a bond is formed that is far greater than any science can explain."
"Woah, woah! Wait a minute!" Minami interrupted, holding up a hand, "'Choose'? Are you saying that these Lions… are alive?"
"In a way they are," Kallen confirmed, shrugging her shoulders. "We do know that they possess some form of consciousness. They can't communicate the way that we normally do, but when I'm flying Aka, the Red Lion, I can definitely feel when she's talking to me. It's like we can read each other's minds through some sort of psychic link."
"Hold up! We talking magic or some bull?" Tamaki asked, sounding highly doubtful.
"Maybe," Suzaku shrugged, rubbing his neck thoughtfully, "I mean, it's more advanced technology than anything Earth can come up with right now, so it would make sense to throw some magic into the mix."
"Wait, so do you guys know what this means?" Inoue asked, voice rising in excitement. "With this Voltron thing here, Britannia doesn't stand a chance. We all saw them wipe the floor with the army in that last fight!"
"Yeah! Britannian Emperor, look out! Here we come!" Tamaki cheered.
Everyone else chuckled at the Black Knights' enthusiasm. Even Ohgi's eyes sparkled with concealed excitement.
"Yes, it was made quite clear in that last fight that Britannia is in trouble," C.C. smirked before her expression turned serious. "However, as of right now, the Britannian Empire is actually the least of Earth's worries."
"Least of our worries?" Sugiyama asked, "What are you talking about?"
"C.C. is correct. While Voltron is an amazing discovery, and a valuable weapon, unveiling him is only part of the reason we're here. During the time Kallen, I, and the rest of the Paladins disappeared, not only did we learn of Voltron's existence, but we also discovered something else. Something bad."
"Okay, and what was that?" Yoshida asked, feeling confused.
"This part is going to sound hard to believe, but please hear us out, okay?" Kallen said with a severe frown before turning her attention back to Zero.
Zero nodded back to the Red Paladin before he continued, "We found out, through Allura and Coran, that there is another alien regime out there, not too different from our Earth's Britannia. And for the last 10,000 years," Zero emphasized the number, "this regime, known as the Galra Empire, has been expanding and conquering every planet and civilization within their sight."
"Wait, 10,000 years?" Ohgi asked, making sure he heard that number correctly.
"That is correct," Allura said, pulling up a screen and pressing a button. The Black Knights gasped as the star map blinked into existence all around them. "As I explained to the Paladins when they first arrived here, during these 10,000 years, the castle has been picking up distress signals from all the following locations." One by one, almost the entire room began to illuminate with red lights, each symbolizing a planet that called for help at one point or another. "The Galra Empire has wasted little time in conquering almost the entire known universe," she swiped her hand. The universe moved to the left until a large bright dot came into their field of vision, just within a border of unaffected blue stars and planets. "Where we are right now, in your Solar System, is right here." All of the Black Knights gawked in fear and shock when they realized just how close they, and Earth, were to the flood of red.
"As you can plainly see, if the Galra continue to spread at the rate they have been, an attack on Earth isn't likely, it's inevitable," Zero told the Black Knights gravely.
After about a minute of silence, as he and the Black Knights took in all this new information, Ohgi swallowed and licked his lips, which had become incredibly dry within that short time frame, "...How dangerous are they?"
Allura and Coran both began typing on separate hologram screens, and within moments, several images started popping up around the Black Knights.
"This is what we know so far. The Galra Empire itself is what we might call a star-faring race," Coran explained. "This means they don't have any set planet to call home, which is partially the reason for the forceful expansion of territory. It's likely due to this expansion that the Galra have been able to also create a large plethora of advanced technology." Images of Galra battleships, guns, cannons, sentries, fighter jets, and several other things flashed throughout the room. "Not to mention, the Galra themselves are formidable warriors in strategy and the art of combat." Images of Sendak and several other unknown Galrans then flashed on the screen. There were even some videos of when Kallen, Suzaku, and a couple of other Paladins engaging Sendak and eventually defeating him.
"All of this, this entire empire, is led by one being: Zarkon," Zero said, as finally, the form of the Galran ruler himself appeared. Upon seeing the emperor with their own eyes, the Paladins could immediately see the intimidation that flashed within all the BKs' eyes. They didn't blame them, though. Zarkon was an imposing creature to look at, and most of them have only seen him from a distance. The award for meeting him up close and personal went to Kallen, Suzaku, and C.C., and they certainly didn't recommend that to anyone!
"Hey, hold on a second!" Yoshida suddenly said, "So this guy has been ruling for over 10,000 years? How's that even possible? Do these Galra guys live that long?"
"Absolutely not!" Allura replied, "But we do have yet to discover what has been keeping Zarkon alive all this time."
"It could have something to do with those huge vats of quintessence we found at that one station," Rai said thoughtfully. "Maybe it helps extend his lifespan?"
"Quintessence?" Ohgi asked, sounding the strange word out.
"In simplest terms, quintessence is an energy generated by living beings. Basically, it's their life force," Coran explained.
"You mean alien life force, right?" Minami asked, sounding a little disturbed.
"No, quintessence exists within all living things. If the Paladins, as humans, didn't have any, they wouldn't be alive right now, much less able to pilot even one of the Lions," Allura corrected.
"Hang on, if that's true, wouldn't we, or even Britannia, have discovered something like that by now?" Tamaki asked with a skeptical frown.
"Well, Shinichiro," Kallen said as she stepped closer to the red-haired BK, "tell me, have you ever traveled faster than the speed of light? Have you ever seen a giant, petrified animal be used as a planet to house other lifeforms? Have you ever come face to face with an alien warlord who's older than the entirety of human civilization? Well, we have. And I'll personally assure you, right now, it's all real!"
Tamaki backed up a few paces, clearly intimidated by Kallen's challenging gaze, "...So he's basically like an alien version of the Britannian Emperor?" he asked uneasily.
"Worse. Much worse," Kallen corrected.
"Anyway, during Zarkon's 10,000-year reign, the Galra have conquered and destroyed countless planets and worlds." Zero explained as the star map came back into view, "One of them… was Allura and Coran's home planet, Altea."
Immediately, all of the Black Knights looked to the Alteans with a new layer of sympathy. After all, Britannia may not have physically destroyed their country and home, but in a manner of nationality, it might as well have been.
"And it's easy to see how he was able to as well," Suzaku added. "During one of our last missions, Kallen and I actually fought Zarkon, in our Lions," Ohgi's eyes widened immensely at this revelation, "and he was only armed with one handheld weapon." Suzaku made sure not to mention the weapon itself. "I don't think he was even wearing proper battle armor. Anyway, we fought him together, and I don't think we even managed to scratch him, but he alone was able to put both of our Lions out of commission for several hours afterward."
Some clips from both Aka and Yoru's fight flashed onto the screen next, and the Black Knights watched in shocked horror, as both Lions were practically thrown around like ragdolls.
During this, Rivalz leaned over to C.C. and whispered, "Um… should we tell them that Zarkon was the original Black Paladin too?"
"I think, for the time being, it's best to keep that under wraps for right now," the immortal whispered back.
"...So, how long until they get here?" Ohgi finally asked.
"That is hard to say, unfortunately," Allura admitted, with a slight frown, but her gaze was steely. "It could be tonight, tomorrow, or several decaphebes ("Years," Kallen translated) from now."
"It doesn't matter when Zarkon comes. What matters is that he will," Zero said with finality. "Which is why the Black Knights have a new goal, a new mission. This castle will serve as our home base; from here on out, the Black Knight's purpose is to prepare Earth's defenses for the Galra's inevitable arrival. This means that we must cripple and dismantle the Britannian Empire as soon as we possibly can. Not destroy it."
"Wait, hold on, what?!" Tamaki voiced the thoughts of most of the Black Knights present, as they all had matching looks of confused shock on their faces.
"We understand if you're concerned about this, and trust us; we don't blame you. Britannia has done horrible things to your country and people, but take a moment to think, please," Rai said calmly, holding his hands in a pacifying motion. "Out of all the nations on Earth right now, Britannia is by far the most advanced, technology-wise. If we're to have a chance when the Galra get here, we're going to need that to help us."
"Plus, as amazing as Voltron is, we're still beginners too!" Milly pointed out. "We've only been piloting the Lions for a couple of months, and we can still barely hold back one or two Galra fleets. If there were to be an entire invasion force, we would still struggle. Especially if Zarkon himself shows up."
"Not to mention that we can't stay on Earth forever," Rivalz piped up. "Our mission is to free the entire universe from Zarkon and his goonies. That's kinda hard to do when you're homebound to one planet…"
"Let me try to rephrase my statement," Zero said, seeing the lingering hesitation in the Black Knights. He clasped his hands behind his back, "Our mission isn't simply about repelling the Galra attacks. It's to make sure that Earth has the means to stand up among other advanced alien races, without becoming too reliant on Voltron in the process. But for that to happen, Earth must unite, not under the thumb of one empire, but under a government where all nations and people are treated as equals."
Ohgi's breathing hitched, and his eyes widened, understanding spreading over his face. "That means... also possibly changing Britannia, as opposed to just straight-up destroying it."
Zero nodded gravely, "Exactly."
"So, that's why you openly challenged the Emperor in that message!" Inoue exclaimed, realizing the same thing.
"Also true. Given the circumstances, I usually wouldn't be too lenient on a man like Charles zi Britannia. But as the old saying goes: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' If it means standing up to a race as hostile as the Galra, I am willing to cooperate if he agrees to assist. Only if he agrees to assist."
"You really think he will?" Sugiyama asked curiously.
"If you want my personal opinion, no," Zero shook his head almost mockingly. "However, when put under pressure, people can surprise you. But, if he does foolishly decline my offer that I'm practically handing on a silver platter, I will fight him. As will the rest of these Paladins!"
All of the Paladins matched the determined grin that was hidden under Lelouch's mask. Even Suzaku had a slight curve of the lips. Suzaku admitted, he was quite surprised with what Lelouch said in his speech just now, about changing Britannia. However, he wasn't quite as naive anymore. He knew that if the Emperor did turn down this ultimatum, they would have to fight. Earth's survival depended on it, after all.
Most of the other Black Knights seemed to relax and nod, understanding their leader's intentions. Tamaki, however, was still scowling skeptically, and Minami had a nervous frown, likely more out of fear than distrust for Zero.
Noticing this, Allura took the time to speak up once more, "I understand if this development greatly concerns you still, and I personally understand wanting to do nothing but destroy the same monster that took your home. But this is the only way to ensure that your planet survives, along with its people. We will need to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. For all we know, Zarkon and his armies on their way here right now."
(Present)
"I'll be brutally honest with you Lelouch, I certainly wasn't expecting the people I met that made up these 'Black Knights,'" Allura confessed. "Most, if not all, seem highly undisciplined, and I'm not completely fond of that Tamaki character."
"True, they may not be the classic definition of soldiers, Princess, but as you said the other day, you should understand what they're going through. Their home has been forcibly taken, and they now must conform to the cruel ways of the empire that conquered them. Otherwise, they face dire consequences. The fact that they are attempting to rebel is a huge act of courage on their part alone," Lelouch then chuckled. "Besides, Tamaki's temper reminds me quite a bit of your own, Princess."
"I-What?!" the princess exclaimed, cheeks colored and looking appalled. Suzaku started laughing as now that he thought about it, it was entirely accurate!
"Lelouch, did you-" Suzaku guffawed again, "I've never seen you make a joke about that. It totally suits you."
Lelouch smirked good-heartedly, and once Allura grasped the joke, she actually giggled a little as well.
"Despite their… flaws, however," Allura said, after composing herself, "I do see that they have the drive to be Defenders of the Universe themselves, whether they are Paladins or not."
"That's good to hear," Lelouch nodded with a smile. He expected as such. If the Black Knights thought it would be smooth sailing for them from now on, they were in for a rude awakening.
"Now, I think it's time to find Nunnally," Lelouch said, a determined frown on his face as he started to walk towards his seat on the bridge.
Before he could get to his seat, however, a beeping sound blared throughout the bridge. Startled, but curious about who was trying to hail them, she pulled up the bridge's monitors.
"Someone from your planet just sent us a message," Allura informed them.
"Really? Who?" Suzaku asked. Lelouch looked on curiously too.
"It doesn't say, but I'll play the message."
What they received though wasn't words, but what sounded like satellite interference and a strange combination of beeping sounds.
"...Perhaps the castle accidentally scrambled it," Allura said with a frown, "we can have Rai look at it later."
"Wait! Play over again, a little slower," Suzaku said.
"What? Why?"
"Please, Princess, I want to check something."
Though she still looked perplexed, Allura did so. Hearing it slower the second time through, Lelouch realized what Suzaku was getting at.
"It wasn't scrambled, it is a message," Lelouch practically leaped into his seat and asked for the recording to be played again. As it was, Lelouch's own screen expanded in front of them as he typed in the message.
"I do not understand," Allura said, "how are this static supposed to be a message?"
"Not the static itself, it's the beeping pattern we hear in it. It's called Morse Code," Suzaku explained. "It's pretty old-fashioned, but the military will still use it from time to time to communicate information since not many people outside militia know how to read it. Plus, sometimes, the message itself can be coded in a way that only some people will know what it means."
"Well, I don't see anything cryptic about this," Lelouch said as he typed in the last number.
On the screen in front of them were three words.
Voltron. Zero. Kyoto.
A set of numbers followed the words, which Lelouch recognized as longitude and latitude coordinates.
"Kyoto? What's Kyoto?" Allura asked after reading the message.
"Um… how do we explain this?" Suzaku muttered. "Their full name is the Six Houses of Kyoto, and it's made up of about six members who own large industries throughout Japan. They were once some of the main advisors to my father."
"When Britannia came though, they cooperated with the colonial rulers, so they became an Eleven governing body to help govern the Elevens," Lelouch continued. "But in reality, from what I understand, they're actually a group of double agents. Though they officially still answer to Britannia, they secretly support resistance groups all over Japan. And it seems that they wish to meet with us."
"Well, this is a good thing, isn't it?" Allura asked.
"I want to think it is. They want Japan free just as much as any rebel, and they probably see Voltron as a chance to do so finally."
"So, we're going to go?" Suzaku asked.
"Hmmm… they may not be too happy to see you Suzaku," Lelouch decided, "I'll take Kallen, Ohgi, and another Black Knight with me. Rai can fly us down to the meeting point in Zerith. Then he can hover from above and track our path to the meeting point, and provide an escape route in case things go south."
"Are sure that's all you'll need?" Suzaku asked.
"No," Lelouch smirked slightly, "I have another plan. And Coran is a key part of it."
"Huh?" Allura blinked. What in the world did Lelouch have in mind this time?
Red and violet energy continued to crackle back on the Galran HQ. Zarkon was particularly eager that quintant to locate the Paladins. Had that rogue Galra not interfered, they would have almost been victorious.
Once again, Zarkon felt the sense of rushing wind pass him as he dove deeply through the astral plane of the cosmos, his black Geass flaring in his eyes.
Suddenly he stumbled. It was as if his astral self had slammed headfirst into a thick metal wall. The druid's energy flashed out upon this impact, and Zarkon collapsed to his knees.
"Sire, what's wrong?" Haggar asked in apprehension.
Zarkon ignored the inquiry and stood back up, "Again!"
"But my Lord-"
"AGAIN!" Zarkon roared, silencing the druid that had spoken up.
More hesitantly this time, the druids threw their magic at the Emperor. Once again, though, as Zarkon cast out his astral range, he ran into the same wall, and no matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't get through.
When the Emperor stumbled again, Haggar raised a confused eyebrow. Through the tiny threads of her spell, she had also felt the impact. But what could possibly have stopped her lord's search? The new Black Paladin's bond with the Lion was still weak; there was no way he discovered what they were doing and built up his own defense in such a short amount of time.
"Sire, if I may…?" Haggar asked cautiously, approaching the Emperor on the platform.
Zarkon grunted and narrowed his eyes, but allowed Haggar to place her hand on his head.
Closing her eyes, Haggar tracked the same path her lord took to find the Lion. When she came across the wall, she pushed against it herself. She hummed curiously, waving a spell along the wall. The energy it emitted felt familiar.
Then she remembered. It was nearly identical to the energy she felt from that Earthling woman they had captured with the princess, as well as the smaller waves she had sensed from Zero, and even the Champion.
However, there was a slight difference to it, but she couldn't quite put a finger on it. She scowled thoughtfully.
"My lord," she bowed after removing her hand, "I ask that you permit me to investigate this anomaly, personally. Though there aren't exact coordinates, the star system they've traveled to should suffice. I will find what is causing this disruption and eliminate it myself, allowing you to track Voltron once more."
Zarkon hummed, an annoyed scowl on his lips. He didn't like the idea of sending his closest advisor to the location alone. Not that he doubted the druid's abilities, but it irked him that he couldn't do it himself.
"Very well. Take one of the western fleets to accompany you," the Galra finally said.
"Pardon my objection, my lord," Haggar argued, "but I believe this mission will require stealth. I will investigate it. Alone."
"...I'm impressed," C.C. scowled as she sat back, relaxing in one of the lounges, "I didn't expect your range to carry out this far… Apologies for being rude, but as the kids say nowadays, that's none of your business."
On the other end of the couch, the four mice were lying lazily and enjoying the quiet of the room. Chuchule, however, perked up when she heard C.C. talking. Tilting her head in confusion, she wondered who the woman was talking to. Other than her and her brothers, they were the only ones there.
"If you're so curious to know, he's perfectly fine. Even off the planet, I don't make a habit of intentionally endangering my contractors… What does that have to do with anything?"
As C.C. continued to speak, the other mice soon were roused from their slumber to glance curiously at the woman as well. Platt scratched his head, plainly confused.
"Well, who said you were in charge of that? Last I checked, I'm the one that decides that. Not you… How many times must I spell it out for you? I'm not coming back! You can throw all the tantrums you want, my answer will remain the same."
After another pause, the mice saw C.C. smirk, "Heh, good luck with that. Just a fair warning, your little project is about to be torn to shreds, and I will do everything I can to ensure that happens."
With that final declaration, C.C. abruptly stood. She then noticed the mice watching her curiously.
She shook her head with a tired sigh, "Just be glad you don't have a bitch in your little heads." She then walked briskly out of the lounge.
All the mice could do was look at one another in confusion, concerned squeaks sounding among them.
"Now then," C.C. smirked as she snuck to the launch bay, "on to more... important business."
"This is taking too long. When will we get there?" Tamaki grumbled as they sat in the back of a car.
The coordinates that Suzaku and Lelouch found had brought to the outskirts of one of the many ghettos. Rai dropped off Zero, Kallen (in her Paladin armor), Ohgi, and Tamaki in Zerith, invisible, and then took off into the atmosphere to await further instructions. The car to take them to Kyoto arrived about fifteen minutes later, and the four entered the car quickly to avoid being seen.
When the Black Knights heard that Kyoto had sent the Castle of Lions a message, they were excited. Kyoto backed up all of the main resistance groups in Japan. The fact that they wanted to talk to them was huge news.
"Ugh, could you chill out, you're embarrassing," Kallen sighed. Kallen was surprised when she heard Lelouch tell her to come in her Paladin armor. She understood that Lelouch wanted to introduce the Paladins to Kyoto, and this was likely the least violent way of doing it. She hoped that she made a good impression.
Suddenly the car jolted, and the party felt as if the car was moving up rather than forward.
"What the hell?" Tamaki grunted.
The car was taken up by a massive elevator that was seemingly built into the ground.
"We're going up?" Kallen wondered.
The elevator stopped, and when the door opened, the car jolted forward again towards its destination. The car soon came to a stop, and the passenger door opened, the driver escorting the quartet out.
"Sorry for the inconvenience," the man stated, allowing Zero and the Black Knights to exit the car. "The master is waiting for you."
What they saw took their breath away. Tamaki, eyes wide in shock and awe, ran over and looked out the window, seeing the Britannian Settlement far off in the distance.
"Wait, this is... the Fuji mines?" Ohgi asked, sounding shocked.
"That is not possible!" Tamaki exclaimed, hands on the window, seeing the solar panels and metal workings outside. "There's no way we could be here!"
"It has to be!" Kallen said, "It has to be Mt. Fuji. There's only one mountain like this in Japan!"
"So, that means the Sakuradite is right below us?" Tamaki asked. "The damn treasure that started this whole war! You know what they do to intruders here? Execute them!"
"Their power reaches all the way out here? The Kyoto group is amazing!" Ohgi gasped.
"It's repulsive," an elderly tone sounded from behind them as the windows went dark. Turning around, the group finally noticed two veiled seats at the other end of the room. On either side were men dressed professionally, wielding guns. "Mount Fuji. A sacred mountain once known for its clear water and quiet beauty. Now it is bent to the Empire's will. A place of hideous violation. A reflection of what Japan has become. It pains me so…"
As the group turned to fully face the two figures, he continued, "Zero, you seem to have caused quite the uproar as of late. We've never encountered such a thing as this 'Volton' you presented two days ago."
The man paused as if expecting for Zero to reply, but the masked Paladin remained silent.
"...We apologize for not showing our faces, but Zero, your face is hidden as well," he continued. "Unfortunately, we can not allow this. To trust you, we must know who you are. Therefore, you will show us your face!"
With this proclamation, the man seated on the right chair raised his cane he had been holding, turning it outward. At the gesture, three Burais and another Knightmare, the one they recognized as the Guren Mrk II rolled in from the shadows, rifles raised and ready to fire.
"Wait! Please!" Kallen exclaimed, stepping forward and throwing her arms out in front of the Black Paladin, "Zero has given us the opportunity for victory with Voltron! That alone should-"
"Silence!" the man barked, cutting Kallen off, "Now, which of you is Ohgi?"
Said Black Knight straightened, "That's me!"
"You will remove Zero's mask."
Ohgi gasped slightly, looking at the masked rebel. He then swallowed and walked as calmly as possible towards Zero.
Kallen looked nervous, but she didn't move to stop her fellow Black Knight.
"I'm sorry, Zero," Ohgi said, "but we need a reason to put our faith in you too," he reached to the sides of Zero's mask. "So help us to put our trust in you."
Zero's mask was slowly lifted to reveal the face underneath. Everyone, except for Kallen, gasped.
"Wait-you're!" Tamaki sputtered as Coran's Altean features came into view.
"What?! No! You're not Zero!" Ohgi exclaimed in shock.
"You're right, Ohgi, this isn't Zero," Kallen said calmly, before turning to the two veiled individuals, "This is one of the Alteans. His name is Coran."
"...Is this true? You're one of these extraterrestrials we've been hearing rumors about?" the man asked, tone laced with surprise and disbelief.
"That's correct," Coran greeted quite cheerfully, before bowing deeply in respect, "Coran Hieronymus Wimbleton Smythe at your service. And it is a pleasure to meet you as well… Lord Taizo Kirihara and Lady Kaguya Sumeragi."
The second that Coran gave their names, the two guards tensed and reached for their weapons.
"Anyone who can identify them must die!" one of the guards exclaimed.
"Especially someone who isn't Japanese!" the other shouted.
"Hey, hey! Wait a second!" Tamaki shouted in panic as Kallen and Ohgi tensed, preparing to be shot down.
Before any triggers could be pulled, from Knightmares or otherwise, the roof above the humans suddenly gave in with a crash. With a deafening roar, the Black Lion itself landed directly in front of the two Kyoto chairs. The guards and the Knightmares all wavered in fear. They knew from Narita's footage that no weapons they had were going to so much as dent the beast.
"You're soft, and your methods and thinking are outdated!" Zero's voice rang through the room as the Black Lion lowered her jaw to the floor, allowing the masked leader to walk out. "That is why you'll never win!"
'And my theory before was correct,' Lelouch added with a smirk. Despite the dramatic entrance, Lelouch had wanted to test something with the Lions themselves. Zerith he could understand with her invisibility, but he wanted to see if any Britannian satellites would pick up the Black Lion's signal. None did. Not only were they the most advanced weapons they had, but against Britannia, they were practically undetectable.
"Taizo Kirihara, founder of Kirihara Industries which has a monopoly on Sakuradite mining, formerly a key backer for the Kururugi regime," Zero said calmly as he walked up to the two leaders. "However, when Japan fell, you dodged the tribunal by collaborating with the colonial rulers — commonly known as Kirihara, the Traitor. In reality, you, as well as Lady Kaguya, are two of the leaders of the Six Houses of Kyoto who support resistance groups throughout Japan. Double agents, how cliché."
"Show some respect, you swine!" one of the guards shouted.
"Stop, please!" the person, a child really, exclaimed from the other veiled chair.
Lelouch chuckled, "It is as you guessed, though. I am not Japanese."
The Black Knights all gasped at this, though Kallen more out of the fact that Lelouch actually admitted it.
"In fact, only two of the Paladins of Voltron are so," he continued. This resulted in another round of shocked noises from everyone but the Black Knights behind them.
"...If you, and the majority of your party, aren't Japanese," Kirihara responded slowly, "why are you fighting for Japan? What is it that you want? "
"Let's just say that Japan's liberation is essential for what is to come. If action isn't taken soon, not only Japan, but our entire world is at stake." Zero then seemed to sigh in relief as he reached for his helmet, slowly removing it, "I'm glad it is the two of you I am dealing with."
Once Zero's mask was removed, Kirihara's eyes widened, and Kaguya audibly gasped.
The Black Knights were also quite shocked to see that Zero removed his mask.
"What's going on? I can't see him!" Tamaki complained.
"Hold it!" Kallen ordered sternly, shooting Tamaki a stern look. Kallen knew that this was the make it or break it point for them. If Kyoto refused to support them, it would make liberating Japan much more difficult.
However….
"Kehehehehehe..."
Everyone looked at Kirihara, who had begun to chuckle. It soon turned into a full-blown laugh.
"Hahahahah! I see how it is now! So, the flower from eight years ago has bloomed at last?" the old man cackled.
"Indeed it has, Lord Kirihara," Lelouch couldn't help but smirk, amused.
The guards, upon seeing Kirihara's reaction, immediately relaxed and lowered their guns, which they had raised when Lelouch removed his helmet and stood back. As soon as they did, however, Kaguya dashed out from the curtain and rammed into Lelouch, nearly knocking him down, wrapping her small arms around his waist.
Everyone's reactions were quite amusing, as well. Kallen developed a tick mark, Tamaki's jaw hit the floor, Ohgi took a step back, and Coran actually squawked in surprise.
"LELOUCH! Omigosh, to think that you were Zero! IknewitIknewitIknewit! And you've gotten taller!"
Lelouch chuckled despite himself. He had to admit; he missed the bubbly girl.
"It's been a long time, Lady Kaguya," he smiled, patting her head before turning to face the Black Knights.
Upon seeing his face, Tamaki's jaw practically hit the floor while Ohgi looked gob-smacked. Kallen looked surprised too, but more on the fact that Lelouch revealed his identity in this way. She was actually more surprised that Ohgi and Tamaki's reactions weren't more concerning.
Kirihara emerged as well, steadying himself on his cane as he walked toward them. The Black Knights immediately straighten themselves out, not wanting to show disrespect.
"Ohgi!" Kirihara exclaimed.
"Yes, sir!" Ohgi replied.
"This man before you is a true mortal enemy of Britannia! He hid his face from you for vital reasons. Should the enemy see it, they will target not only him but also those closest to him, the Black Knights included. That is why his face must remain hidden! I urge you to follow Zero. If you do, we shall supply you with medical aid, financial support, weaponry, and intelligence."
Everyone's eyes widened. The plan had worked. Kyoto was in on the fight. Tamaki began grinning like an idiot, Ohgi bowed forward respectfully along with Kallen while Coran sent Lelouch an approving smile.
"We thank you!" Ohgi said.
Kirihara then turned back to Lelouch, "So, have you decided to embark on the path of blood?"
Lelouch smirked back at the old man, "If it is what's before me, then so be it. However, time is short. I also bring a message that must be passed to the other leaders of Kyoto at once."
Hearing the seriousness of his tone, Kaguya finally let go of Lelouch and gave him her full attention, Kirihara also gazing at him, waiting for him to continue.
"The Black Knights have already been informed of this coming threat, but it will mean little to nothing if we don't prepare. If we do not, not only is Japan in danger but possibly the rest of the world as well."
"Go on…" Kirihara attentively.
"It's something that we, myself and the Paladins, discovered not too long ago. Shortly after the Blue Lion was spotted leaving Earth's atmosphere. It was another alien race. A race known as well the Galra."
Lelouch went on to explain a summarized version of the events that happened since they had left Earth, not too different from when the Black Knights were briefed. By the time he finished, Kirihara's expression had become grave, and Lady Kaguya looked genuinely concerned.
"And this Voltron is the only thing that can stop this race from reaching Earth?" Kirihara asked.
"As of right now, yes. However, the question isn't if the Galra will come, but when. Time is short, and although Voltron is a powerful weapon, without all of Earth's cooperation, it's unlikely the human race will be victorious."
"Very well. I will gather the rest of Kyoto to discuss this matter."
"I thank you, Lord Kirihara," Lelouch bowed before reattaching his helmet and walking back to the Black Knights.
"Hey um, Zero, I mean, Lelouch, or whatever, why didn't you tell us who you were back at the castle? Why have Coran parade around as you?" Tamaki suddenly asked.
Despite the unfortunate timing of the question, Lelouch snorted and shrugged, "To be honest, I just wanted to mess with you."
Kallen couldn't stop the giggles that escaped her, and Ohgi had to cough to cover his own snicker.
'Guess Zero is human after all,' he thought as he shook his head fondly.
"Plus, Coran wanted to try the cape on," Lelouch added, pointing to the Altean in question. In reply, Coran swept the cape in front of him and then posed dramatically, causing another round of laughter from the small group.
A hissing sound from behind them stopped the Lelouch and the Black Knights from leaving just yet. Turning around, Lelouch's eyes widened and felt like an ice cube was sliding down his back slowly as Sayoko emerged from the Gurne Mrk II and landed gracefully on the floor in front of them. Unlike her maid outfit, though, the ninja donning a magenta suit that was zipped up to her neck with light blue armored plating.
"It is good to see you once more, Master," Sayoko greeted, bowing deeply to Lelouch.
Lelouch stood frozen, his heart rate accelerating, and eyes filling with dread.
"Sayoko, where's Nunnally?"
Zerith came in fast as she and Zen returned to the Castle of Lions. Upon landing, the group disembarked and were met with the rest of the Paladins and Black Knights that stayed behind on the castle.
Along with Rai and the other Black Knights that accompanied Lelouch, everyone was quite surprised to see Lady Kaguya practically skip down Zerith's ramp. Upon seeing her, Suzaku, in particular, was surprised. It had been years since he had last seen his cousin, and she had grown a lot. If his memory was correct, the last time he saw her, much less had contact with Kaguya, was before Japan was conquered.
"Suzaku!" Kaguya gasped upon spotting him and soon barrelled into him, knocking him off his feet. Shirley, Rivalz, and Milly looked on in surprise, "Lelouch said you'd be here! It's so good to see you!"
"It-It's good to see you too, Kaguya!" Suzaku stuttered and smiled as he got back to his feet.
"Wait, Suzaku, who's this?" Rivalz asked, glancing warily at the young girl.
"Oh! This is Kaguya Sumeragi; she's one of the heads of Kyoto. And she's also my cousin."
"It's so nice to meet all of you!" Kaguya chirped, turning to the rest of the group.
"Lady Kaguya agreed to stay in the castle as Kyoto's representative," Ohgi quickly explained.
"Oh! Well, it's nice to meet you too, Kaguya," Milly said with a smile, bowing slightly in Japanese custom. "I'm Milly Ashford, and this is Rivalz Cardemonde and Shirley Fenette."
"Pleased to meet you!" Kaguya greeted with a smile.
Rivalz greeted with a smile, and Shirley giggled at how bubbly the girl was. She then turned back to Rai, only to see the distressed and disturbed look on his face.
"Rai, what's wrong?" she asked.
The Green Paladin swallowed and turned to face everyone, "Lelouch said to meet on the bridge. Immediately."
Everyone suddenly stood at attention, seeing the shine of fear in the Paladin's eyes. Something else had happened when they were on Earth. But what?
"Hey! And where the hell is C.C?!" Kallen suddenly asked, looking around with a frown.
She got her answer when one of the castle's pods suddenly flew in and landed right next to Zerith. As the top of the pod opened, C.C.'s face showed itself… and next to her, and stacked up high in the back, were several dozen boxes of Pizza Hut pizza. Plain cheese from the aroma that wafted out. In the immortal's arms, was a large yellow, cheese character plushy.
Seeing the looks of disbelief, and even mortification, on the rest of the party, C.C. glanced around at them, clearly confused.
"What?"
Lelouch, Allura, Sayoko, and Coran were already on the bridge, waiting for everyone to arrive. As they turned to face everyone, Allura spotted Kaguya.
"Who's this?" Allura asked curiously, but with a layer of seriousness.
"This is Kaguya; we'll explain why she's here later. What's going on?" Suzaku asked urgently.
Lelouch scowled and clenched his fists, not answering as he turned to the bridge's main controls. He pulled up a large screen, and on it was the Britannian news broadcast from Earth.
"This is live," Lelouch murmured as he turned the volume up. On the broadcast, they saw that it was being filmed from Pendragon, Britannia's capital. And standing up front, in all his glory, was Charles zi Britannia himself, a massive scowl on his face.
"The world lies. Thou shalt not commit murder. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not cheat. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. All of these are lies. Mere illusion. Nothing more."
As the crew gazed up at the image of the Emperor, Coran couldn't help but gulp, feeling slightly intimidated, Shirley sharing a similar expression on her face. Everyone else, though, including Suzaku, was glaring up at the Emperor.
Lelouch, in particular, was clenching his fists and gnashing his teeth as he burned holes into the face of the monster that he called his father.
Allura also felt her own rage bubbling up inside her. True, she had seen the Emperor in Lelouch's memory he had shown them on Arus, but seeing the man currently only cemented her hatred towards him. She could see that this man didn't have a lick of good in him, and was genuinely stunned to realize that Lelouch was related to him. If anyone else, but Lelouch, had told her that, she would've laughed and brushed it off as a ridiculous joke. But no, there was nothing funny about this now. That was, indeed, Lelouch's father.
The broadcast was being shown all over Area 11. Every television and radio station was playing the words of the Emperor.
From the viceroy's palace, Cornelia, Euphemia, and Nonette sat together in the throne room as they watched and listened to the Emperor's remarks.
"They don't want to be killed. They don't want to be robbed. Using the twin lies of justice and morality. The weak are endeavoring to protect themselves."
It was even being played in the military hospital, where Villetta and Jeremiah were recovering from Narita's defeat. Jeremiah had several bandages wrapped around his head and upper body, while Villetta had some gauze on her cheek and her left arm in a sling.
"But the first truth there is that the strong devour the weak. So let us feed upon people, upon wealth, upon riches and power. We of Britannia shall feast upon the raw flesh of the world itself. As well as upon this fiend that calls itself Voltron! No matter what stands in our way, we will crush this deception and bring forth the truth!"
"Zero! You asked for my reply, and now I give it to you!"
Lelouch straightened and observed the screen, knowing his father was now talking directly to him.
"The future of Earth will be decided by our beloved Britannia and her alone! Not by this abomination known as Voltron!"
Though he didn't say it directly, the Emperor's response was unequivocal. He was refusing to cooperate, and would rather fight Voltron rather than work with it. Even if it meant the death of millions.
As Allura's fists clenched in rage, Suzaku felt the dwindling hope that the Emperor would see reason spiral down the drain. That was it, then. They had given the Emperor fair warning. Now it was time to fight.
"All of Britannia backs this decision. Especially those of the royal family."
The screen suddenly shifted, moving away from the Emperor. When it came to a stop, there was a collective gasp throughout the bridge.
In front of them, sitting in a wheelchair, facing the camera, wearing a fashionable dress with a pink color scheme, was Nunnally vi Britannia. Standing off to her left, with a neutral expression, was none other than the Prime Minister of Britannia, Schneizel el Britannia.
"Oh no…" Milly murmured, hands covering her mouth, though her statement voiced what everyone was thinking at that moment.
"Zero, this is Nunnally vi Britannia..."
"...I speak on behalf of the people of Britannia. Please, surrender peacefully, and I am sure that we can cooperate to bring a brighter future."
"Nunnally…" Cornelia gasped as she leaped from her throne in shock.
"She's alive!" Nonette added.
Euphemia was at a loss for words. If Nunnally was alive, and with their brother apparently, why hadn't he alerted them immediately?!
"Princess…" Jeremiah murmured, eyes wide. He couldn't pull his gaze away from the girl whose mother he had failed to protect all those years ago.
"Also, to those of you who are holding my brother and his friends captive, please let them go. By holding them, you are only causing more suffering to others. And Lelouch…"
Lelouch barely kept himself standing upright as his sister began to address him directly.
"...if by some miracle you hear this as well, please come home safely," Nunnally choked as tears trailed down her face before gasping out her last words, "I love you."
The video cut back to the cruel face of the Emperor as, to Lelouch's rage, a satisfied smirk flashed across Charles's face before he spoke again.
"Zero, consider this your only and final warning. This Voltron will submit and bow to Britannia, or else it will be your forces that will be decimated. All Hail Britannia!"
As the Emperor threw his fist in the air, the crowd watching the speech live shouted back in unison.
"All Hail Britannia! All Hail Britannia!"
The screen soon turned dark as the broadcast ended.
"Well… this isn't good," Rivalz finally said after several seconds of silence.
"Oh, ya think?!" Kallen snarked, shooting Rivalz a side glare.
Princess Allura, in all of her life, had never thought that she would meet another person that she would hate as much, if not even more so, than Zarkon. But the man that she had just watched address his nation just proved her wrong. Not only was it clear that he cared very little of what became of his subjects, but to use his own disabled child in such a way was beyond cruel as well. She swore that if she ever had the displeasure of meeting him face to face, he would receive no mercy from her. She was sure that if Alfor was still with them, he would be sharing very similar thoughts.
"Lelouch…" Suzaku addressed cautiously, his voice drawing everyone's attention to the Black Paladin. The expression on Lelouch's face was one that Suzaku had only seen one other time before.
The day that an eight-year-old Lelouch swore his vengeance on Britannia.
There was nothing but unadulterated rage on Lelouch's face, his hands were clenched so tightly, that if it weren't for the gloves he had on, they might actually be bleeding.
However, there was also a small glimmer of another emotion on Lelouch's face. One that only a select few had seen before.
Pure terror.
AN: SO SORRY for the long wait! I had a ton of midterms to study for, and by the time it was over, I had a hard time getting back into the habit of writing regularly (if you understand what I mean). But I think I'm finally back at it, and although I don't think this chapter is as good as the others, I really hope you enjoyed it!
So yes! Sayoko was the one piloting the Guren this time! Her outfit is basically the same one that Kallen wore in canon when she piloted it.
A lot happened as you can see! So what else is going to be in store for the Paladins now? Britannia has made their decision, so how will they deal with the Galra AND Britannia. And why can't Zarkon track them?
Also... the pizza scene... I had to do it, there was no way around it. HA!
