Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass at all!
Well here is the latest jewel from my August Camp NaNoWriNo project and is basically an expanded Omake of one of the chapters of the story. It basically started out as a basic Omake and expanded as I got more ideas. I hope to get some feedback for this small ficlet, for I basically only gave it a basic check therefore I am sure there are problems. Remember this is only a first draft and not really a full-on story from me.
Moving on, the basic idea started after I read dw77's Bugged and I was tempted to make my own version of events of a break-up in the Black Knights after they betray Lelouch. Here it happens just as the betrayal happens, instead of later on as in Bugged. The idea of the Black Guard is borrowed from Bugged but I have made into something different here.
That was the start of the idea and then I read some info on Akito the Exiled and got a series of new ideas that started a domino effect of this story. Basically in this version of events the W-0 unit or as I heard them called the Wyvern Unit is betrayed by the EU military and are left helpless in the advance of the Britannian Army. Without their top-of-line Alexander Knightmares which had been destroyed or "recovered" by loyal EU military officers they are left with captured Sutherlands and Glasglows against the approaching army. They are further betrayed thanks to much of the EU Eleven Refugee population forcefully relocated to the steppes of Russia right into the path of the Britannians. Then we get the Black Knights stumbling onto this event soon after the series events in China and the alliance between the Bk and the Federation. The Wyvern Unit soon join the BK and become the core of the new Black Guard a new unit that is formed after the UFN is started to be formed. Basically they become Zero's new private force while the Black Knights become the UFN's Main Military Force and Zero becoming only the founder and figurehead of the group.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Code Geass: The Black Guard
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Zero's Office
Horai Island
April 23, 2008 a.t.b
In the large office that became the inner sanctum of the masked revolutionary Zero, or also known as Lelouch vi Britinna exiled prince, while he was on Horai Island the man himself sat relaxing with his mask sitting on his lap. He had only just returned from Area 11 to keep up appearances and give his final instructions to his loyal followers covering him there. After he returned he had been in and out of meetings with the various community leaders of the refugees he had managed to save from Area 11 as well as the senior officers of the Black Knights after the revelation of the wedding in China which could spell trouble for the Black Knights and their Japanese refugees. Therefore he was quite exhausted and started to relax without his mask. He also wished that his sister Nunnally was here for she would be able to really make him relax and made him quite calm. However now she was his enemy as the Viceroy of Area 11, but with him turning his attention to other matters allowed him hopefully to leave her in charge of the area without any trouble. He sighed and was about to get up to get some rest when his door slid open and let in the form of Kallen Kozuki. Lelouch blinked at this before sighing and leaned back again.
"What is it Kallen?" he asked her looking up at her as she entered the office with a sigh before she took a seat across his own seat.
"Lelouch, I was wondering if you wanted to talk about it. For you have been pretty down ever since we have arrived here at Horai," she mentioned with a tone that told him that this is Kallen one of his closest friends and not Kallen his bodyguard. Lelouch sighed at this before throwing an arm over his face.
"You know why I am upset Kallen," he replied a moment later making the red-headed pilot sigh mournfully in pain at this.
"Yeah if I had to fight against Naoto I would have a hard time as well," she said in return making the young revolutionary chuckle darkly.
"Oh I have no problem with that thought now that I had us turning the attention away from Area 11 and towards the Chinese Federation. Though I admit originally my plan had to regroup and rebuild the Black Knights into a new army that perhaps could have taken on Britannia eventually but this business with the wedding between the Tianziand Prince Odysseus has changed my plans. My major problem with Nunnally in Area 11 however is what the Emperor and his peons have planned for her now that Zero is no longer in the Area," Lelouch said as he looked over at Kallen to see her nodding in agreement before flinching at his last statement.
"Anyways to change the subject away from something painful for you Lelouch. Rai and I believe you should see about maybe telling a few of the other Black Knight officers about your identity, your story and your plans for you need to start trusting them sometimes," Kallen said eying Lelouch wondering what he would say to that but was surprised to see him nodding in agreement. She mentioned Rai Sumeragi the third person to know the true identity of Zero and had started to become a trusted friend to Lelouch ever since the slightly older man had started to regain his memories after the Black Rebellion failed.
"Yes I have thought about it ever since I saw how Urabe handle knowing part of my story, but I will do something about it after we return from this operation Kallen. Now thank you for talking to me but I need to start getting some rest," Lelouch replied mentioning the member of the Four Holy Swords that had commanded the operation to rescue him from the OSI trap and his false live, later the man had been killed during the last part of the operation. Kallen nodded at him before getting up and started to leave the office but stopped and fire back one more comment.
"It is a good idea Lelouch for Rai and CC can't cover for you forever after all," she mentioned before leaving the office behind. Lelouch thought about that before laying down on the comfortable couch of the office and started to drift off.
-o-o-o-o-o-
Zero's Quarters
BKS Ikaruga
Airship Yard, Horai Island
June 8, 2018 a.t.b
In the comfortable quarters and office built into the Ikaruga for the use of Zero the man himself was once more sitting in a comfortable chair thinking about something or another. This time though he was more sprawled then sitting and he looked down right exhausted both mentally as well as physically as he stared off in the distance. He didn't even notice the beep at the door to the quarters and it swishing open to admit RaiSumeragiwho was wearing the new uniform for the Black Guard, Zero's new personal force that he alone commanded. Rai frowned seeing his leader like this but couldn't blame him for first one of this closest friends and confidants Kallen was taken prisoner during the Black Knights Operations in the Chinese Federation, then the girl he considered to be his first love was killed by a stray shot during a fight between several OSI agents that woken up from Lelouch's Geass Command and a few Black Knight personal remaining in Japan including Lelouch along with Rai, and now finally CC one of his longest supporters had lost her memories losing her support only recently. These series of blows really took a lot of the other man. Now Rai was only the one of his close supporters left and it had taken its tole on Lelouch. With a sigh Rai took a seat in front of him making the man turn to look at him with dead eyes.
"Lelouch you can't just stay in here all day neither Shirley or CC would like you to do this too yourself and if Kallen saw you like this she would kick both our asses for this. You for moping like you are and me for letting you," Rai mentioned hoping that mentioning the three of the four most important woman in his life in the same sentence would get him to respond somehow to him. He was both surprised and pleased to see Lelouch blinking at him before his dead eyes started to recover some of that old fire that made Rai follow him way back when the Black Knights were first formed.
"Yes Kallen, I have forgotten about what she had said back then," Lelouch said out loud before turning to look at the large tactical screen that he had been watching only several hours before when word arrived of the location the new Geass Order base which sent him off to destroy it alongside CC and a regular Knightmare squadron. He saw that the three icons representing the forces taking care of the last of the holdouts of the supporters of the High Eunuchs in rural areas of the Chinese Federation while another icon represented a force taking care of the reminder of the Britannian unit that had chased an EU unit all the way to the borders of the Federation. Lelouch nodded for that meant the majority of the senior officers of the Black Knights were busy with those forces allowing him to do something he should have done a long time ago. With another nod he turned his attention to the confused form of Rai.
"Rai I need you to gather the rest of Zero Squadron and those Wyvern Unit troops that have decided to to become the core of the new Black Guard at Warehouse 10," he ordered the man who looked confused but saluted and left to follow those orders.
"Yes Kallen was right I should have done something like this ages ago before all this susuenpion has started about me with the rest of the senior staff," he mumbled to himself before getting up and putting on another of his Zero uniforms including a new helmet before leaving the room behind heading toward Warehouse 10 of the Horai Island were hopefully he could convince the future Black Guard of his story along and get their loyalty. Granted he did recieve their loyalty due to them being saved by his orders and his actions to resettle the people from the Japanese Refugee Camps that the Wyevern Unit had been protecting. With a nod of his helmeted head the masked figure of Zero left the ship behind.
-o-o-o-o-o-
Warehouse 10
Warehouse District, Horai Island
Two Hours later
Over two hours later found Lelouch now mask less staring down at the cheering ranks of the new Black Guard pleased at their acceptance. He looked over to the figure of Rai to see him smiling as well for he was shocked at what Lelouch had planned but went along with it knowing he had no chance to convince his leader to turn away from this plan before he started it.
"See it worked after all," Lelouch whispered out the side of his mouth towards him making Rai scoff before turning to look at him.
"Yeah but I don't think this is what Kallen had in mind when she mentioned you should do something like this. Not to mention using my Geass ability on you to make you tell the truth to them was a risk," he whispered back with a frown mentioning his own Geass ability which happened to be the Geass of Absolute Truth making anyone tell the truth for a certain period of time. Rai had used it on Lelouch on his orders after his story had been told to the group of the Black Guard.
"Lord Lelouch what are your orders?" the voice of Akito Hyuga former member of the E.U's Wyvern unit and one of its remaining commanders asked with a small smile on his face. Lelouch grinned down at him evilly before chuckling.
"Your new mission Major Hyuga is to take the new Izanami Stealth Airship to the EU and hunt down General Smilas," he ordered and was pleased to see the hungry growl from the former Wyvern Unit personal who had been betrayed by the General and then left them to die as the Britannian advanced towards the resettled Eleven Refugee Camps in the cold Steppes of Russia. This included the EU Japanese refugees and the regular EU officers who had lead the unit throughout its many missions, including Colonel Reila Malkal and her officers.
"What about your protection Lord Lelouch?" the mentioned Colonel asked looking up at him making Lelouch nod in understanding pleased to see them concerned for him.
"No worries Colonel, a unit of your Infantry will remain behind along with Zero Squadron as my main bodyguard unit," Lelouchn said assuring her who smiled up at him before turning to her officers to begin to plan on their mission to hunt down the traitor. His mission done Lelouch started to leave the warehouse behind him to make his way back to the Ikaruga to get some rest after all the excitement from the last few days having taken its toll on him. However he was stopped by Rai who grabbed his arm with a smile.
"You did a good job Lelouch and Kallen would be pleased with you for doing this. You are really have earned their loyalty for being truthful and allowing them to get their revenge," his friend mentioned with a large smile on his face. Lelouch looked at him with a small smile on his own face before leaving the warhouse behind pleased that Rai had said that maybe he would indeed get some rest now.
-o-o-o-o-o-
Main Hanger
BKS Ikaruga
Tokyo Settlement
June 21, 2018 a.t.b
In the main hanger of the Black Knight Flagship Ikaruga the man known as Zero stood behind the form of his chief bodyguard Kallen Kouki as she covered him from the large spotlights now shining down on the two of them and the figures of the Black Knight Command Staff standing behind the spotlights on the catwalks overlooking the main hanger. The figure of Zero stood tall and proud hidden by his hawkish mask as he stared up at the bright spotlights with anger, while the red-suited figure of Kallen spread out her arms out to cover him.
"I need to know Lelouch what do I mean to you?" she whispered to him at the corner of her mouth and Lelouch Vi Britannia, otherwise known as Zero knew what he had to do. However before he could do anything a pair of Knightmares suddenly appeared out of the shadows thrown around the hanger by the bright spotlights and came to stand in front of the two of Knightmares were a pair of black-painted Type-5/S Akatsuki Jikisan Types that happened to piloted by the remaining members of Zero Squadron, Zero's personal guard squadron of Knightmares. The Command Staff of the Black Knights looked down at the twin knightmares in shock and became even more shocked as the two raised their Duel-Barrel Arm Guns up to point at them.
"What are you doing Rai? Zero has betrayed us and is now our enemy?" Kaname Oghi bellowed out in anger at the left-hand Knightmare which had a blue-lightning bolt painted into its shoulder letting everyone known who the pilot happened to be.
"No Oghi you don't know the whole story," the voice of Rai Sumeragi current commander of the Zero Squadron after the detainment of Kallen said over the loudspeaker of his Knightmare. As he said this a squad of eight figures in a complete black uniform with a head piece that covered the entire head of the person with a silver visor-like facemask covering the face of the figures appeared to block the figures of Zero and Kallen from the Command Staff and pointed their own weapons up at the shocked Black Knights. These were members of the Black Guard, Zero's personal force which Zero Squadron is part of.
"What! How dare you Rai! The High Command of the Black Knights and the Chairwoman of the UFN have spoken against Zero and have declared him a betrayer to the Black Knights, Japan, and the UFN," the furious form of Kyoshiro Tohdoh yelled out in anger. He however was confused by the dark laughter from the Rai's Knightmare.
"You forget General Tohdoh, but the Black Guard doesn't answer to the Black Knight Command or the UFN Council we are the personal armsmen of Lord Zero...no Lord Lelouch and yes we all are aware of his true identity as well as some of his mistakes and his full story," Rai responded with a chuckle surprising the entire High Command.
"Now we shall be going, and you won't be following us. Lieutenant Rolo! Please retrieve Lord Lelouch and Captain Kozuki," he called out as another Knightmare appeared from the shadows as well before kneeling down behind the shocked figures of both the now mask less Lelouch, and Kallen. This Knightmare happened to be the Type 0/0A Shinkiro Zero's personal Knightmare. A loud hum started as one of the Ikaruga's personal shuttles started up allowing the Black Guard to retreat towards it. Another pair of Black Guards appeared out of a personal door leading the green-haired timid form of C.C. Lelouch's trusted confidant and right-hand woman towards the shuttle.
"Wait! Rai you are being used, Lelouch has something called Geass and it can control people..." Oghi called out one last time trying to stop them making Rai's Knightmare turn towards him once more.
"We know all about Geass Oghi! In fact a few of us have received the gift of Geass. Myself along them and if you asked I could have used it to get Lelouch's side of the story for you, but no you had to believe your own enemy over your own leader who managed to get you all here," Rai mentioned cutting off the other man angrily before turning back around and deploying his Air Wing Glide System along with his companion. The Shuttle started to head for the now opening door of the hanger while the two Knightmares turned to wait for the Shinokiro.
Down on the ground Lelouch smiled at this pleased that not of all his men had betrayed him but before anything else could happen he turned to look at the still shocked form of Kallen and held out a hand towards her as the line from the Shinokiro dropped behind him.
"Kallen to answer your question I care a lot about you and you can ask Rai along with the other remaining memerbs of Zero Squadron about how furious I was when you were captured. You are not a pawn, none of the Black Knights were pawns to me, and I never used Geass on any of them. I admit that at first I was using the Black Knights as a way to attack the Empire but over time many of them became close to me breaking through many of my walls. You where one of the few who managed that Kallen and become a close champion to me. Come with me Kallen and all your questions will be answered," he said and Kallen nodded taking his hand as tears stared to leak from her eyes as the two of them where taken up to the cockpit of the kneeling form of the Shinokiro. Rolo, Lelouch's make-believe brother and one of his most loyal allies nodded at Lelouch from the controls of the Knightmare with a small smile before following the two Zero Squadron Knightmares out of the hanger of the Ikaruga and into open space around the Tokyo Settlement. The Command Staff of the Black Knights could only watch in shock at their forms and wondered what had happened while the shadowed form of Prince Schneizel El Britannia watched with an impassive face.
'Well played little brother, well played,' the prince thought with a frown knowing that this would change many of his plans as he watched the forms of the three Knightmares and single personal shuttle as they flew away from the larger form of the Aerial Battleship.
-o-o-o-o-o-
Thirty Miles off the Coast of Japan
19:47 Local Time
The four forms of the three Knightmares and single shuttle were silent as they flew through the sky heading towards the ocean and their destination. They had managed to easily slip away from the patrols sent out to find them and the small Britannia Air Fleet that escorted the Avalon to Tokyo. As they traveled night fell and they used the darkness of a new moon to easily make their way out of the Airspace of Area 11 or now known once more as Japan. Finally they reached their destination a black blot that suddenly appeared out of the ocean like a whale and then started to float gracefully in front of the approaching group. This form happened to be the Izanami the mobile headquarters and flag ship of the Black Guard. It had clearly started life as one of the thirty-six light Kamikaze Class Aerial Destroyers, built by the Black Knights remaining at Horai Island while the Ikaruga headed for China and made up the bulk of the Black Knight Aerial Fleet during the Operation to Liberate Japan and the Battle of the Tokyo Settlement. However the Izanami, named after the Japanese Goddess of Death and Creation, was different from its sisters in that it was painted in all black and sported numerous equipment to make it the mobile headquarters of the Black Guard. Including a top-of-the-line stealth system that managed to hide from many eyes and radar. Like all Black Knight Airships it could both travel in the air and under the water if needed thanks to the Air Glide System.
In the cockpit of the Shinkiro Lelouch looked at the darkened form of the ship and sighed wondered where he should go from here. He had lost his little sister, he had lost the support of much of the Black Knights, and had basically lost to his brother Schneizel. He was sure the older prince would indeed hand over Japan as promised over to the Black Knights even though they didn't manage to either kill him or capture him liked planned. He needed time to think, regroup, and plan for what he was going to do now. As Rolo piloted the Shinkiro into the opened hanger of the Izanami Lelouch did think a few things felt right, for one it felt good to longer wear any of his masks, and secondly he finally told Kallen how he felt about her. As the Knightmare landed in the hanger of the Airship Lelouch smiled down at the curled up form of Kallen as she leaned against him in behind the pilot's seat of the Shinokiro. Maybe things would start to look up for him now as the hanger door closed behind the last of the Zero Squadron Knightmares.
-o-End-o-
Well there we go and this is only a small taste of what I have been writing for NaNoWriMo for like mentioned this originally started as a Omake so don't be surprise if a few more of my ideas start sprouting here. Now moving on the Kamikaze Class ships mentioned here are in fact the Small Airships seen after the UFN was formed and during the Battle of Tokyo Settlement.
Now moving on many would notice that I have taken the character of Rai from the Lost Color game and used him as a base for another character. I have changed his Geass to something different from Lelouch's and since I originally planned on somehow having Lelouch geassing himself to answer a series of questions ask of him truthfully as he could. However I think this works better since while Lelouch does now have the Geass Canceller I figured this would be the better option.
Anyways depending on the response I get I may or may not continue this into a full-on story for I still have some ideas on where I could take this. So let me know!