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Chapter 3: the Black Lion
The sunset breeze was cool and salty, a calm before the storm as the Black Knights prepared for combat against Viceroy Cornelia. Members of the Japan Liberation Front were fleeing to foreign soil armed with nothing more than liquid zacuradite (someone tell me how to spell this) and the princess saw this as a perfect opportunity to not only capture their general, but wipe out then remainder of his troops. Lelouch in turn saw this as the perfect opportunity to attack his sister and find the answers he'd been seeking. Through his mask, he explained in detail the plan to attack Cornelia.
"Wait a minute Zero, I realize this is a request from Kyoto, I think we can definitely handle it. I think the Japan Liberation Front would rather join us than flee to foreign soil-," the masked man cut Ohgi off and turned to the surprising informant Britannian.
"You're the one who brought us this information. Diethard wasn't it?" The blonde man nodded.
"That's right, it's an honor you would meet me like this Zero,"
"Cornelia is going to deploy the Royal Marines on General Katasay of the Japan Liberation Front, is that correct?" He asked firmly.
"Yes, the network is already planning on making a report on it,"
"Lieutenant Colonel Tohodo will never reach Katasay in time. Which means the Japan Liberation Front has no military strength right now," Zero explained to his knights. "Their only chance of escape is the liquid zacuradite,"
"Which is why we should help General Katasay escape instead of going after Cornelia," Ohgi protested.
"Ohgi! Who are we?"
"We're the Black Knights Zero," he answered unsure.
"Then we have one task: we will destroy Cornelia's troops, and in doing so rescue the remaining members of the JLF! Tonight, we regain what was lost to us at Narita!"
"What are our chances?" He asked.
"Need you ask?" Ohgi smirk, feeling much more confident about the mission. Zero then addressed the rest of the group.
"Begin preparations. You all have orders to carry out," just as the masked leader began to walk away, Kallen, the group's ace in the hole, called out.
"Uh, Zero!" The black clad man stopped.
"I have something to attend to. Whatever it is, save it for later," he dismissed, much to the red head's disappointment.
Nearby the yard, a different soldier was lying in wait for the battle to begin. You sat patiently in the Regulas, waiting for the perfect moment. Thanks to the channels Calvin had, he was able to inform you about the Viceroy's plan to attack the JLF and gave you the location of the Regulas yesterday. Of course you made sure to practice with the custom Knightmare first before even thinking of entering the battle, but for some reason, you were able to control and use all of its functions by instinct, like your mind and blood were just wired up to the machine, or the ghosts of your parents were whispering the instructions in your ear. Now it wasn't like you had no experience piloting a Knightmare frame, far from it actually, you just thought for some reason you'd need to learn all over again to even hope you would be able to use your father's creation.
"Come on, start already," you said quietly to yourself. Simply waiting for the fight to begin left you alone with your thoughts, mainly the ones with Calvin and Lelouch pleading with you not to get involved with the Black Knights. You felt guilty for making them worry, but you had come this far, now teetering on the brink of no return, and you weren't about to give up now, not even for your best friend. It was then you heard the sound of guns firing in the distance. You smirked.
"Alright, game on,"
(Timeskip)
Lelouch's plan had gone off without a hitch. After reassuring Kallen, who like him had doubts after Shirley's father had been caught up in Narita, the battle played out in the beginning as he had predicted. He had made it appear the JLF had committed suicide and rallied his troops to attack Cornelia who was now cornered by him and Guren Mark 2. However, the pesky white Knightmare from Narita once again interfered and attacked him, the pilot condemning Zero for his methods in trying to bring peace. Kallen tried to put the Guren between the Lancelot and her leader, but the white knight was determined to cut the head off the snake so to speak. As he lunge for the killing blow, Kallen screamed.
"Zero!" It was then a black form rammed into the enemy Knightmare from out of nowhere, standing between it and Zero who had ejected from the destroyed frame. Suzaku got the Lancelot to its feet and stared at the newcomer. The model was one he had never seen before. It sort of looked like the Lancelot, but it had a strange mechanism at the waist, and the heads design looked more animal like than he had ever seen on a Knightmare. At the end of each hand, long silver claws gripping duel energy blades and hooks on each forearm. The model's eye were what stuck out the most: deep, dark, almost black blue panels staring at him. There was a silence for a time before Suzaku began questioning the pilot.
"Who are you? Are you with the Black Knights?" The machine answered by charging once more. Suzaku tried to dodge but the machine was too fast, ripping its claws across the body of his Knightmare. Kallen stared in disbelief. This wasn't one of their Knightmare frames, but it obviously wasn't an enemy with how determined it was to stop Lancelot. A voice came over the radio.
"I suggest you pick up Zero before a straggler decides to end him," the voice was deep and artificial, but it was enough to make the Guren pilot realize their leader was now defenseless. She rushed over before Zero's voice was heard over the radio.
"Kallen, remain where you are and attack that white Knightmare,"
"Zero! Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, I was only unconscious for a few minutes and an ally of mine found me first. In any event, what is the situation with the unidentified Knightmare," Kallen glanced at the two frames, now duking it out on the shipping crates. The white knight was surprisingly struggling against the might of the black newcomer.
"I don't know, it's not one of ours, but considering it protected you, I think we can assume it's an ally,"
"Never assume things. Where is Cornelia?" Kallen then realized the princess was nowhere to be seen.
"She's gone, she must have retreated during the confusion," she could almost hear his frustration on the other end.
"Very well, we're done here. Fall back while the White Knightmare is distracted,"
"But what about the pilot!?"
"If I may be so bold as to interject?" A voice on the radio suddenly spoke up. Lelouch on his end was stunned by this as the voice continued.
"Black Knights, I am not your enemy. And to prove my loyalty, I will defeat the White Knight!" The battle suddenly spiked as the black frame began moving fast, taking every opportunity to rake its swords or claws into the enemy. Suzaku was getting worried. He was managing to land his with his vehicles fist, but his other weapons were useless at this close range, not to mention this Knightmare was obviously built to be fast and defensive. He brought down his fist again in hopes of crippling his enemy's movements, only to be met with a shield.
"No way!" The Knightmare suddenly swept at the Lancelot's knocking it over before driving a dagger into machine's leg. The Japanese boy pulled back, his vehicle now at a sever disadvantage. However, the black machine did not continue the assault, but instead joined the Mark 2 on the level below.
"What are you doing?" Kallen demanded. The voice on the other end chuckled.
"It's a message for the Britannian engineers. Their precious weapon was so easily crippled by an outsider. Let them make it faster and stronger if only for it be destroyed by my own,"
"But you said-,"
"I said I would defeat the White Knight, I never said I would destroy it. It will be unable to peruse us in this condition. So I suggest we pull out while our enemies are unable to peruse," Kallen was in a state of shock. The pilot spoke with cunning and the arrogance seemingly similar to Zero. But they obviously had the skills to back up that arrogance, and with the Mark 2 damaged not only from this fight, but also from the fight at Narita, retreating seemed like a good option. However...
"Zero, what are your orders?"
"Retreat, we've lost the target, we can't afford to loose the Guren. Return to meeting point Kallen,"
"And this guy?"
"Bring them along as well. They delivered in their promise,"
"Alright,"
As the Lancelot recovered from the battle, the 2 Knightmares sped off to meet with the rest of the group. Suzaku stared at their retreating forms in disbelief. He couldn't believe there was now a Knightmare obviously more powerful than Lancelot now in the mix. Who was that strange pilot, and where did that Knightmare come from. Cecile appeared on screen.
"Suzaku! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, just a little bruised. What was that thing?"
"I don't know, it's a model I've never seen before! Whatever it is, it's fast and powerful and -,"
"Forget about it for now! The Lancelot is what we should worry about!" Lloyd interrupted as he worried about his masterpiece.
"We need to repair the Lancelot immediately! We can scan the blade lodged in the leg later, just get it back here now!" Suzaku felt a little better at Lloyd's uncharacteristic outburst before nodding.
"On it sir,"
Now a good distance away, the Guren Mark 2 led the unknown Knightmare into the base of operations for the Black Knights, much to the suspicion of the other members.
"What were you thinking bringing an enemy here Kallen!" Tamaki yelled as the female exited her Knightmare.
"It's not an enemy Tamaki," she assured. "They saved me and Zero from the White Knight,"
"Still it's a bit of a risk," Ohgi argued before Zero walked up to the machine, all eyes watching in terror silence.
"Pilot, I ask you step out of your Knightmare," he demanded.
"Very well," the artificial voice agreed to as the pilot emerged. They were in a royal blue suit with gold accents, similar to Kallen's outfit but much more regal in a sense. It was also noted the pilot was more than likely female due to, ahem, obvious features. Her face however, was covered by a mask that Kallen had seen in her text books. It was traditional war mask made to resemble a lion. Everyone continued to watch as the pilot walked up to Zero, dropping 2 swords and a gun on the floor to prove she was not a threat.
"You wish to prove your loyalty, yet you wear a mask,"
"I don't believe your one to talk sir," Lelouch knew right away it was you. A sarcastic quip like that was completely like you.
"Touché. May we at least know your name,"
"You may call me Regulas, after my Knightmare,"
"I see, you have a magnificent machine,"
"Regulas was handled by some of the best engineers in the world, you'll find few who could match it in combat,"
"Why is it you wish to join us Regulas,"
"I'm a Britannian who seeks vengeance against my homeland," the Black Knights gasped and pointed their weapons at the pilot.
"Why should we trust a stinking Britannian!?" Tamaki exclaimed. Zero held out his hand to signal them to stand down.
"Why do you seek destruction upon Britannia?" The pilot's fist clench.
"The royal family ordered the death of my family when I was a child. We had done nothing wrong and yet we were executed like criminals. I only managed to escape by good fortune, but since that day, I have sworn to exact my revenge on those who took my love ones from me. I'm sure many of you could relate. Britannian has stolen not only from the Japanese but even its own citizens. I wish to help you retake Japan and restore it to its former glory," the Black Knights were stunned. Regulas didn't stutter or waver in her speech. She was dead serious.
"Very well Regulas. While I can't offer you admittance now, I can offer you a trial period to prove your worth. If your victory against the White Knight reflects your skills, then I doubt it will be a long period," You saluted in the same manor as you had when addressing Lelouch.
"I will not fail you master Zero,"
"I'm sure you won't. Kallen, you'll over see Regulas and report to me on wether or not they should be admitted," Kallen was surprised but nodded.
"Yes Zero," he turned to the pilot one last time.
"Last chance to leave,"
"You'll find we're beyond that point sir,"