“Those Britannian pigs thought they could break us, kill us well the jokes on them cuz the Black Knights have done it again!!”
The energy and joy behind Tamaki’s cry was shared by all as the grounds of the Consulate Building were ablaze with activity as the Black Knights rejoiced at their rescue and reunion with their comrades. It was a great victory, not only had their leader (with assistance from the new weapon Gundam) outsmarted and rescued their imprisoned comrades but had publicly humiliated the Britannian military yet again on live T.V.!
Inside His Burai Lelouch allows himself a smile as he watches his Black Knights celebrate. ‘Take heart of the celebration because we have much, much work to do my Knights. Today was the first of many sweet victories we will taste again in the future.’ Lelouch thought as he watches. Curious he changes his camera focus he zooms in on the Gundam which was still just standing there, its head turned toward the former execution site. ’Making sure that the Britannian Army won’t try some last moment revenge shot are we? How noble of you Gundam, how noble.’ He then switches his radio on, making sure to encrypt the channel as to make sure prying ears did not listen in. “Pilot of the Gundam, can you read me? This is Zero, I wish to have a quick chat with you, if you’d allow me.”
He sees the Gundam’s head turning his way, and to his delight moments later the channel fills with a voice only reply. ”What is it you want to talk about Zero? I should warn you right now I am not leaving my cockpit.”
Lelouch puts his fingers together as he talks, “And to what end do you think I was going to ask that among my questions?”
”Who wouldn’t want to know about the one who assisted them.”
“Touché’, then I will forgo that question in favor of another; why did you help us?”
”Your people were going to be unjustly executed, do I need a reason more?”
“One does not show up in such an advanced weapon to merely perform rescue work, also this is not the first or the last execution of such a kind preformed by Britannia. Why intervene in this one? Is it because this is your first opportunity to deploy that Gundam?” Lelouch presses, keeping his probing minimal for the moment. “On that matter, will we see more of your interventions?”
”It all depends. Now I have a question for you Zero.”
“Oh?”
”You said you would commit evil to destroy the greater evil. Just how evil will you go to destroy the greater evil… without becoming the next great evil?”
Lelouch had to smile, this pilot was not stupid. While truly annoying in that it didn’t give Lelouch any info to work with, he had to admire the pilot was not giving away his identity, agenda nor any secrets about his machine, also he asked questions. Granted Lelouch preferred to be the one asking and then receiving answers it was good to see such a weapon was not in the hands of an incompetent even if the pilot was not under his thumb. “It all depends my dear Gundam pilot, how evil must I be to destroy Britannian and liberate Japan and the rest of the world under Britannia’s yoke, or the yoke of tyranny anywhere?”
Inside Exia Setsuna stares at his camera which was focused on Zero’s machine just like it was on him. “A vague answer and a dangerous one; if you become too evil you become your enemy, perhaps even worse.”
”Yet if I am not willing to dirty my hands I cannot fight my enemy. War is not pretty or romantic as movies and novels would have one think. Sacrifices must be made, strategy and tactics developed to stop the enemy, the people rallied to fight for their freedom. I wage war not as an idealistic fool but as a man who understands what is wrong with this world and how I must fight an enemy who out numbers me in both man power and resources. Surely you, yourself understand that in order to ascertain victory, one must be ready to deal with the consequences both seen and unforeseen.”
Setsuna quietly contemplates Zero’s words, his mind drifting to Celestial Beings original armed interventions. While they were aimed to eradicate war, their actions did have ill consequences in terms of lives lost, economies that crumbled, and many other factors that were side effects of their efforts. That included the betrayal of Celestial Being by Ribbons Almark and Alejandro Corner that set in motion the events that led to the unification of the world and its near damnation by the Innovators and their A-LAWS. “I understand fully the consequences of fighting against injustice, and that methods the world may find detestable are a necessary evil. However Zero I will say this. If your evil turns you into what you fight against, and you indeed become the greater evil. I and my Gundam will destroy you.”
”I see you’re a man who understands war fully well, and is not afraid to make his intentions to a potential ally clear even if that intention is a promise of hostility.”
“That hostility will only come your way if you become the greater Evil Zero, for your sake and those who follow you, you’d best not. As for being allies, for now we are in that we both detest Britannia, if we become more, I can’t say for sure.”
”Knowing Britannia we will be seeing more of each other Gundam, or do you have a preferred name to go by?”
“Goodbye Zero.” ’I’ve talked too much, I better leave now. Even if Sumeragi-san authorized dialogues to get Intel, I feel unnerved talking to that man.’
As Exia began to float upwards the celebrating Black Knights seemed to halt in notice.
“Huh why’s he leaving?”
“Damn I wanted to shake the hand of whoever was in that!”
“Wait Gundam!”
”Let it be!”
Heards turn as Zero leaves his Burai, the masked man looks up at the departing mobile suit as it reaches high above the Consulate before taking off at full speed. Looking back down upon his troops Zero says. ”As much as I know you’d like to meet and thank the pilot, he has other things to attend too.”
“So, does that mean that the Gundam is our ally Zero?” Ohgi asks having now changed out of his prison garb into a uniform that was given out from a set of trucks brought out into the courtyard for the former prisoners.
”I cannot fully go into the details of our alliance with the Gundam. As it was in order to even get its aide I was sworn to the utmost of secrecy concerning it. After all given its overwhelming power those behind it do not wish to be leaked to Britannia or any other hostiles who may steal their secrets.” Zero answers as he steps down from the Burai, walking over to the middle of the gathering.
“That’s very vague Zero and what about a year ago?” Nagisa Chiba of the Four Holy Swords asks hotly. “Why did you abandon us on the battlefield?”
“I think we deserve an answer on that one at least.” Shogo Asahina, also of the Four Swords asks.
“Don’t get us wrong Zero we appreciate the rescue, but after we stood by and fought alongside you we kinda would like to know what happened.” Ohgi speaks up, agreeing with his friends on the matter.
”Everything is for victory over Britannia.”
Tamaki having just put on his headband and adjusting it says, “Okay go on…”
”That is all.” Zero states as if the matter was concluded; much to the shock and chagrin of many gathered.
“Nothing more to say?” Asahina asks in a mixture of disappointment and irritation. “No excuses, no explanations, no apologies, just that vague answer?”
“Stop it!” Todoh commands as he steps forward towards Zero. “Zero, were your actions intended to give us a chance at winning?”
Without missing a beat Zero replies. ”I am always focused on getting results Todoh.”
“I understand,” Todoh nods as he stands beside Zero and then turns to face everyone else. “At times our operations must be kept secret! Right now we need to rely on his power. I can think of no other more capable to be our leader than Zero!”
Ohgi feeling a stirring of his loyalties from Todoh’s words steps forward. “I agree, we should trust Zero he is our leader after all.”
“Hey Ohgi you were just questioning him a second ago!”
“I was wrong to do so, Zero came back for us, if he truly abandoned us then he could have gone into hiding forever since nobody knows who he is! I’m sure he had good reasons; I mean he’s got an alliance now with that Gundam! Considering whoever built it has technology that surpasses Britannia and managed to keep it secret it was probably no easy feat for Zero to negotiate with them! Only Zero could have done what he did today! Even the Chinese Federation isn’t strong enough to wage war on Britannia, and the EU keeps losing to Prince Schneizel! We’re the lost hope of all the areas Britannia has colonized, Zero is the only one who can lead us to victory in our war of independence!”
“Ohgi’s right! Zero, Zero, Zero, ZERO!”
Soon one by one the chants of his name spread about, inside his mask Lelouch didn’t allow himself to bask in their loyalty; in fact he almost felt like a heel for using them as he did.
Almost… while he was using them he was giving them what they wanted, their goals coincided and it wasn’t as if they weren’t using him as well. It was a mutual relationship.
’I have cleared all tasks at hand with the Black Knights. Now we can focus on restoring our forces and continue with our mission, the destruction of Britannia!’
Later on in an office inside the Consulate house, Zero sits behind a desk before touching his helmet, trigging the sensor that made the sliding panels on the back of the helmet retract allowing it to be removed. “I believe as soon as everyone has gotten their bearings we should use the escape route Li Xingke provided us to move ourselves out of the Consulate. I have no doubts the Britannian’s will try to find some loophole to try and either arrest us or attack us while we’re out in the open here.”
“A wise consideration, as it is we may have overstayed our welcome.” C.C. agrees as she sits in a chair holding a Cheese-kun doll.
“What about that Knightmare that protected Zero? It disappeared around the time the Gundam did.” Kallen asks looking right at Lelouch.
“He used the same escape route we just talked about.” C.C. explains.
“Given what happened to Urabe I can’t reveal the pilots name, but consider him an ally we can trust.” Lelouch explains as he puts on his special contact lens.
“Did you use your Geass on him?”
“As it turns out I didn’t have too.”
Kallen puts her soda down from her lips frowning. “So you won’t tell even me who this pilot is?”
Putting his hands together Lelouch replies plaintively. “Even I must keep some operation secrets to myself Kallen.”
“So once again I’m out of the loop, well can you at least explain the Gundam?”
“I can and I can’t.” Lelouch states in the same tone. “To put it simply the Gundam showed up of its own accord and even though I managed to have a quick chat with the pilot via radio and ascertain a few facts. While largely still a mystery I know the pilot and whoever backs him has a problem with how Britannia conducts itself, and perhaps has a thing about war in general.”
“Were these direct answers or your assumptions?” C.C. inquires with detached curiosity.
“Those are simply my impressions from our talk, for now I can call us allies but forming a more preferable alliance will take time. The pilot was no blabbering fool and kept his secrets close.”
“So in short you BS’ed everyone outside about talks with the Gundam and whoever built it.” Kallen frowns. “Lelouch that kind of lie could ruin Zero’s credibility.”
The former prince smiles as he says. “That is why I said I was sworn to utmost secrecy, it gives me leeway to deny knowledge and if need be if and when I gain and audience with that pilot or perhaps even his benefactors I can use Geass to settle things.”
C.C. shakes her head several times before stating aloud. “That maybe a bad idea, a very bad one; for all you know that may know of Geass or have their own or countermeasures.”
This caused both Lelouch and Kallen to blink several times in the immortal’s direction.
“C.C. would you mind telling me something, do you know something about this Gundam you aren’t telling me?” Lelouch inquires with his trademark look that spoke levels of his annoyance for not knowing a fact or detail he so desperately wanted to know.
The green trussed woman shakes her head. “Not really, I have seen a mural depicting a glowing figure that resembles the Gundam. In fact I vaguely recall in the Geass Order-ah.”
At her hesitation Leouch says to her, “Kallen can be trusted with the matter about Geass, she knows this much she can hear this.”
’Finally something he can trust me about besides his identity!’
“Well back when I was with the Geass Order, the organization that creates Geass users and trains them one of the other Code Bearers another like me had spoken of a prophecy and drew murals and various paintings depicting a figure that eerily resembles the Gundam from today. However that is all I can confirm, so I merely wish to inform you that there may be a chance whoever created the Gundam may have a tie to the order or knows of Geass, so to air on the side of caution you may wish to employ a strategy not involving Geass.” The immortal woman then looks up at the ceiling. “Then again I could be utterly wrong.”
Lelouch frowns as he contemplates this information. “Perhaps you may be wrong, but it may not be a bad idea to focus on a none-Geass strategy in dealing with the Gundam and whoever is its patron. If the Order has even some vague idea of its existence, then we can’t leave it to chance.”
“Could it be this Order is actually behind it?” Kallen asks in a worried tone.
C.C. shakes her head at the idea. “No, most of the Order regarded the visions that individual had as rubbish, only paying attention when some of them eventually did come to pass. As a result she likewise regards the Order with disdain but stays because she really has nowhere else to go.”
“C.C. who is this individual? This person who foretold of the Gundam’s arrival,” Lelouch asks with great curiosity as he leans over the desk now.
“Her name is… is, she is-“ C.C. hesitates as she tries to say the name. However every time she tries to utter it; in her mind she sees the outline of a girl and her grin and… her laugh!
”Pururururururururu!!”
Lelouch and Kallen are dumb founded as they’re treated to the image of C.C. looking out of sorts if not downright frightened.
“C.C.?”
“I-I can’t.” She says curling up with her Cheese-Kun doll like a child who had a nightmare. “I don’t want to remember that little witch!”
Kallen mouths the words an explicit phrase without saying it, completely surprised that someone existed that could scare the seemingly unflappable woman.
Lelouch runs a hand over his face in annoyance as he mentally ponders this. ’So even C.C. has someone she fears, whoever this person is she’s either very powerful, or downright cruel and sadistic to give this woman such a fright.’
Somewhere in an unknown location; P.P. aka Elpeo Ple/Puru sneezes violently and then uses V.V.’s long blonde hair as a make shift Kleenex as she mutters about ‘People talking badly about her.’
At the same time Lord Guilford was settling into a chair in a communications room of the army base. He sighs as he turns on one of the view monitors and sets the channel to receive the channel incoming from Pendragon. He knew the following conversation would not be pleasant but he could not refuse a call from his majesty.
Finally the connection synchronized and the image began to clear up. Guilford stands up saluting as the visage of the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire came into view. “Your Majesty, your humble Knight Gilbert G.P. Guilford is ready to give you his report.”
”Lord Guilford I am not interesting in any matters of your report except for one. This Gundam that appeared before you, tell me everything you can of what you were able to observe about it.”
Now this surprised Guilford who expected to be asked to report on both Zero and the Gundam, and a dressing down. The latter he figured may come at the end; so without skipping a beat he gives his report. “Well your Majesty, the first thing was its size; it’s four times the size of a typical Knightmare, and as it approached us the particles it was emitting were jamming our communications and sensor arrays until the particles ceased. It seems to have a float system but yet there is no sign of any typical float unit or traditional propulsion system equipped on the unit. Despite its size the maneuverability is astounding as it was able to move from one spot to behind the prison trucks and slice a line of Knightmares down the center and then fly to the G-1 mobile and slice it down the middle in half and return to its original spot before we could properly react.”
”And its weapons?”
Adjusting his glasses the Knight of Cornelia continues his report. “On its right arm was a mounted long sword that could be retracted when not in use. Also there’s a beam weapon mounted on the sword as well that it can use when the blade is retracted. The output we estimated puts even the Gawain’s Hadron Cannons to shame. At this point that is all the data I can provide based on visual observation sir.”
”I see, very then.”
As the monitor cuts off abruptly, Guilford feels a sense of both immense relief and yet the same amount of puzzlement. The Knight was left to wonder to himself just what was going on. ’He just wanted to ask about the Gundam? No reprimand for failing to capture Zero and losing the prisoners? I’m not to be made an example of? Why would his Majesty trivialize Zero’s return and be more concerned with the mystery machine? A ruler shouldn’t ignore some threats to his kingdom but all… I know Princess Cornelia lamented the Emperor had become more and more detached from running the Empire as the years went by, but still I is disheartening the leader of our Empire has- no I shouldn’t think or dwell on such thoughts. Most likely the Emperor is looking at the larger picture or is simply privy to information I am not. As a Knight of the Empire I must remain steadfast in my resolve.”
With his business in the communications room concluded Guilford turns and unlocks the door and steps on out, rubbing his brow as he ponders what to do next.
“I guess it’s been a long rough day for you Lord Guilford.”
The Knight of Cornelia whirls toward the voice. “S-Sir Kururugi! I wasn’t aware you returned to Area 11!”
Smiling at his former superior officer the Knight of Seven, Suzaku Kururugi offers a hand for shaking to Guilford. “I just got back just less than five minutes ago and came to see how you were.”
Guilford happily takes the offered hand, instigating the offered handshake. “What brings you back to us from assisting with the conflicts with the EU?”
“Zero.”
Guilford’s smile lessens to a more serious look. “Indeed, so the Emperor allowed you to come deal with the matter?”
“We both know Zero can’t be given an inch or he’ll stir trouble all over again. It’s bad enough what he got away with today. “ Suzaku says in his usual determined tone before he lets out a long tired sigh. “Also we both have been cost plenty by Zero, he can’t be forgiven for his crimes to us and to all of his victims.”
“I am relieved we’re on the same page Sir Kururugi. Too many in the chain of command are too divided on taking Zero’s emergence seriously or dismissing it as they feel he’s an incompetent imposter who can’t be the same level of a threat.” Guilford tells the Knight of Seven, getting some concerns off his chest.
“Maybe this incident will at least serve to get the rest of the chain of command to understand the severity of Zero’s return.” Suzaku says as he digs out a piece of paper from his coat. “By the world Earl Asplund asked me to show this to you.”
Guilford takes the sheet reading it over. “Is this for real?”
“They’re yours for “testing” as Lloyd likes to call it, I figure they may help in giving you something of an advantage.”
Guilford smiles, the paper was a transfer request, one that would give him a customized Vincent for his own use and the a few of the mass production type Vincent Wards that he could disperse to the Glaston Knights. “I humbly accept, and next you speak to him convey my thanks to Earl Asplund.”
“I’ll be sure to do that Lord Guilford. Now if you’ll excuse me I have arrangements to make.”
“Arrangements?”
“Currently I do not have the Lancelot with me as its being fine tuned, until then my ability to act is limited in terms of combat. In the mean time I believe I have some matters with Ashford Academy to deal with.”
“You’re going back to school?”
Suzaku smiles, “I never did finish after all.” ’Also I need to confirm for myself if Lelouch has become Zero again, or if this is merely someone carrying out the will of Zero.’
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(Posted Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:22)
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