Nunnally of the Insurrection

Chapter 41

"... Lord Ashford, I'm so sorry," Nunnally said formally.

Milly paused, then nodded grimly. "Thank you," she said grimly.

Rivalz blinked as he murmured, "She's the heir...?"

Shirley jabbed him before he could say anything else.

Ms Alessandra nodded slightly. "All right, we need to guard the Viceroys and Lady Ashford," she barked.

"Right," Nina agreed. "Back to the Palace?"

"Wait a minute," Viceroy Cornelia started.

Nunnally shook her head as she said, "If these guys are competent, there's an ambush waiting if they failed here."

(If any of the attackers had survived, they might have felt sheepish at that. Or possibly not, itwas hard to say.)

"Right," Alice agreed. "Where's a secure location here?"

"Camelot labs?" Nina suggested.

"And Suzaku is there, along with the Lancelot, assuming things get really out of hand," Milly offered calmly. She was (probably) in shock over her father's death...

"Yes! Suzaku!" Shirley agreed, still obviously crushing on the boy.

"Could I get a word in edgewise?" Cornelia ordered.

"Sorry, ma'am," everyone chorused while Euphie looked faintly amused.

"We need to get Euphie to safety, certainly," Cornelia started.

"You too, sister," Euphie added quickly.

"One of us needs to be kept safe," Cornelia started again.

"We can ALL be safe if we just hurry to the labs and stop debating," Nunnally barked in her 'Nemo' voice. "Everyone, grab guns. We're going," she ordered.

"Except Rivalz. When we did weapons training, he can't hit the broad side of a barn," Nina added as she picked up a terrorist's gun.

"Hey!" Rivalz protested.

"It's true," Shirley added.

"Right," Alice hid a smile.

Cornelia and Euphie went along, with Cornelia giving Nunnally a searching look. Ms Alessandra also looked intrigued.

The group hurried out into the halls, which were deserted because staff were keeping students in the classrooms. They hurried along, while keeping a eye out for attackers.

"You probably should NOT use your command voice around the Viceroys," Milly whispered to Nunnally as they moved.

"Reflex," Nunnally made a face, "besides, I think Cornelia has recognized me anyway."

"Guess going blonde didn't help," Milly teased.

"Down here," Nina waved to a service corridor.

"Why..?" Ms Alessandra blinked.

"It's faster than the halls, and it keeps us from running into anyone," Rivalz noted.

"Yeah, I discovered it when I was sneaking off to the Council rooms for a quickie with Nina," Milly smirked.

"MILLY," Nina groaned.

They reached Camelot Labs facility with no more trouble then hurried inside.

"Wha..." Lloyd Asplund blurted at seeing them all armed.

"SHUT THE DOORS," Cornelia barked.

"What happened?" Suzaku rushed forward, dressed in uniform.

"Kidnapping attempt," Euphie sighed. "We escaped, but we're not certain if they had help."

"So you headed here, as we're reasonably secure," Cecile Croomy noted. "Have you notified the military?" she asked, noting that no alerts had come up on their systems.

"Not yet," Cornelia admitted, "a full scramble of the military would be noticeable by various nobles and such."

Everyone knew that Cornelia and Euphie had rivals in the royal family. This attempt on them would reflect badly on them... well, from a certain point of view. Her allies would point out that THEY, along with a few students, successfully defeated the attackers.

"Suzaku, contact Villetta Nu and Jeremiah Gottwald," Euphie suggested, "in my experience both are reliable and discrete."

"Do it," Cornelia agreed.

Nunnally was standing off to one side, trying to not draw attention.

"Ms Lamperouge, could I speak with you in private?" Cornelia ordered.

'Busted,' Nunnally thought, sighing. "Yes ma'am," she said.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"They did WHAT?" Ohgi yelped once they heard. "Who are these guys?!"

Todoh calmly said, "Survivors from the Chinese invasion. They weren't brought into the Black Knights because of their criminal records."

"Records?" Tamaki asked, frowning.

"Multiple criminal offenses," Todoh shrugged, "it's apparent they joined the rebellion for the chance to loot and pillage."

"And rape, apparently," Ohgi noted, reading.

Kallen, who had been skipping school top avoid the Viceroy's visit, scowled. "I should have been there," she growled.

"And if you saved them your cover as 'sickly Kallen' would be over," Ohgi pointed out.

"Still!" Kallen said.

"We should contact the Viceroy, let her know there's aren't us," Tamaki pointed out.

"Have Nemo do it," Todoh said, "she is our public face after all."

"Hopefully the Viceroy will listen," Ohgi sighed.

The group was unaware that the Viceroy Cornelia had bigger things to be concerned about... like learning her half sister was alive.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Ms Lamperouge, could I speak with you in private?" Cornelia ordered, looking at the smaller blond.

"Yes ma'am," Nunnally said, following her to an empty office.

Cornelia shut the door, then looked searchingly. "Nanna?"she asked quietly, using the childhood nickname.

"Yeah," she smiled wryly. "It's me."

Cornelia suddenly hugged her, clasping Nunnally to her without even thinking about it. "We thought you were dead...," she cried.

"I'm sorry," Nunnally hugged her hack, "I had to hide."

Cornelia pulled back, looking at her sister in disbelief, "Why?!"

"Mother and Lelouch were murdered," Nunnally answered flatly, "and there were attempts on me too. Then I was left here when we invaded."

"We had been told you died beforehand," Cornelia said. Flatly she added, "You're death was part of why we officially invaded."

Nunnally scoffed, "Can't have the world thinking we were just invading for the resources."

"True enough," Cornelia conceded. "So why Area 11...," she started then realized, "the Ashfords. They were friends of your Mother."

"Yes," Nunnally conceded. Grinly she said, "Please don't tell anyone I'm alive."

Cornelia studied her thoughtfully as she realized, "You suspect Father?"

"They couldn't have gotten to Mother and Lulu without high ranking help inside the palace," Nunnally answered, "so either family or a trusted retainer."

Cornelia really couldn't argue that. Worse, she could easily imagine some of their siblings plotting to do it... the rivalry for power in the Empire was insane.

"All right," Cornelia conceded. She added a bit sadly, "We need to catch up once we get ojut of this... I've missed you."

Nunnally actually looked embarassed, "Me too."

A banging on the door interrupted their moment. "Yes?" Cornelia answered.

Suzaku looked sheepish, "Jeremiah Gottwald and Villetta Nu are here with a squad of soldiers to escort you back to the palace."

"Understood. And the kidnappers?" Cornelia asked.

"No sign of any others," Suzaku reported.

"Amateurs," Nunnally observed dryly.

"Agreed," Cornelia nodded.

To be continued...

Notes: Kinda FORGOT Kallen and Shirley last chapter. So added in that Kallen skipped... and Shirley was just unusually quiet last chapter, but THERE. Really.