2023-11-24: Bloodstained Euphie

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<Pose Tracker> Euphemia li Britannia has posed.


         A large stadium has been built, with seats for as many as Euphemia could manage. The center, where the field normally would be, has even more seating. There is a large, obvious exit; directly opposite it, instead of an exit, there is a stage, where numerous golden chairs sit. The Japanese and Brittanian flags are shown on a monitor, with them flying both overhead. A large purple wall has another exit, covered by thick red brocade. For security reasons, there are Knightmare Frames every few hundred meters along the inner perimeter.

         There are two rows of seats, split between the left and right parts of the stage. In the front row on the left, Euphemia li Britannia should be sitting in the furthest right chair, but is currently absent. To her right, there is an empty seat, unlabelled but reserved for Zero of the Black Knights and beyond, General Andreas Darlton, who was given watch over Euphemia by her dearest sister, Cornelia.

         Euphemia is absent because that guest did show up; in a room down the hallway behind the stage, Zero and the Sub-Viceroy are having a very intense conversation. What happens in that room is of worthy notice for the packed stadium, but not one that was visible to anyone.

         "---'-- -----. - ---- -- ---- --- -------."

         Euphemia leaves Zero much to his regret. On her way back onto the stage, she is stopped by a group of plains-clothed watchers who attempt to stop her when they realize she's holding a needle gun. It is a matter of seconds, though, for her to incapacitate the trio. Her speed is what first alarms Darlton, as well as realizing-

         "Sub-viceroy, where's Zero?!"

         Euphemia doesn't give him an answer, stopping once she's fully at the front of the stage. Once there, it becomes clear that her lilac colored eyes are ringed by red, something no one has ever seen in her eyes. The Geass'd Euphemia looks out at the crowd and says:

         "All of you who call yourselves Japanese...I have a favor to ask!"

         "Could you all die, please?" 

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        One way or another, the Black Knights agreed - something had to be done about the Special Administrative Zone. To Kyoshiro Todoh, it represented a complete defusing of their cause. To Diethard Ried, it represented a sudden end to the public validity of Zero's cause. And to C.C., it represented...well.

        "...You really can't help yourself when it comes to the lion's den, can you?" C.C. mused in the front seat of the Gawain, as it settled into position with the rest of the Black Kights, a mile away from the stadium hosting the Zone's opening ceremony. "Look at it. Standing exposed up there, because it's that important how, whatever way you handle it, you have to be visible at all times..."

        Her aloof, airy voice is as cynical and cold as ever.

        ...but the witch can't help but crack the smallest of smiles as she lands in the rear landing court and watches Zero stride into that fateful meeting with Euphemia...

        A smile that fades, very fast, the moment she feels that stark pain in her eye - a shock from her link with the boy who contracted her. She's felt it before. She knows what this means. The point of no return's been reached. And at a time like this...

        ...no, it's not just that. It's laced with distress. Sharp like a taut violin string. What on earth did Lelouch just do...?

        It's answered so swiftly, when Euphemia stands up on stage. The witch can't help but suck in a sharp breath - she can see that tinge of crimson in the corner of her eyes. A drastic, insane order she'd never, in her life perpetuate. A command that, in one fell swoop, proves that the Special Administrative Zone is a farce. Proves that the Black Knights are Japan's only saviors. Proves that Britannia can't be trusted.

                        --at what cost?!--

        ...The sinking feeling in C.C.'s stomach reminds her. The innate foible of all mortal men when given power. She's persisted for this long, out of the belief that maybe - just maybe - just maybe - someone out there was different. Someone out there genuinely believed. Someone recognized that this curse, perhaps, was simply a tool to be used, and not a stain on the soul.

        "...I was wrong, was I...? Heh. ...Once again...it never changes. No matter how long I wait..."

        ...Her voice may be calm. Her posture may be relaxed. But there's a short, sharp wail emanating from the crouched Gawain on an axis only a few could see. A sharp stab into the waters beneath the mind.

        ...Not that she'd ever, ever let it show in what must come next. The moves that must ensue, the moment the contract becomes...'unviable'.

        --"HQ. This is C.C. here. ...I don't have a visual on Zero's location. He didn't tell me that this was...the ugly truth Britannia was hiding. ...All things considered, I imagine he's chasing after Euphemia now, but stamina was never his strong point. As soon as I've retrieed him...mm. Be ready. I don't like this either."-- ...Even at a time like this. Even with the dejected sigh of resignation that she may have to vanish - C.C. still has the space for a slight jab at Zero's expense. ...no. It's not 'confirmed' just yet. Before she makes a move - she needs to know. It'll all be sure when she sees him one more time.

        --That feeling of dejection, of course, is hardly mutual.

        "...hehe. Ahahaha. Zero, you really are unbelievable...!" Diethard Ried, the Black Knights' oh so enthusiastic reporter and chronicler, observes this slowly unfolding shock to the many with an almost maniacal smile on his face. "To think, you could unveil the rot this drastically? Or to think, you're ruthless enough to hold blackmail on this kind of level...ahaha. One way or another, the true man Zero really is may have just been tested to its limits. ...Rakshata, I trust you're not so tender-hearted as to turn away at a moment like this, are you?" The growing disgust from the rest of the Knights in that mobile command station festers - some of them do recoil in horror. Most elicit a gasp. Diethard, truly, is nearly alone in his fixation on just what has just unfolded...! 

<Pose Tracker> Lelouch Lamperouge has posed.

Backstage. The place for you to keep your mask off; you can wear a costume, certainly, but you are not in your role. That is for the stage, for the audience, for the show. It is not incorrect to say that 'Zero and the Sub-Viceroy' met and spoke. That is true. ... but, isn't it so shallow? If Zero is the man in the mask, who leads a bloody rebellion, the miracle maker who will save Japan, then what does it mean for him to stand there, holding that stupid mask in his hands, his face revealed - for no one to see, anymore. What does it mean for that man to look down at his hands, and see them wrapped around a pistol - safety off. If it cannot be Zero, then...

Couldn't it be more accurate to say, then, that 'Lelouch and Euphemia met', then? But to say that - no.

Be honest. Stop lying, for once. You are solely responsible for this, and what comes next. It is quiet, in this room; far from the stage, far from the eyes, far from Euphemia. But he already knows she will not stop. Cannot stop.

"You never do lie, do you...? Ha. Ha ha. It truly is the greatest curse in the world, isn't it, witch!?" Where no one can hear him - where no one can see him - alone, Lelouch - the Zero - all others, he might call himself - can be truthful. "This power, this 'gift'. Damn you. I'll drag you to Hell with me, you - you-..." He blinks, and realizes he is standing over something shattered. A vase, or something. Oh, right. The flowers. Euphemia likes ---

You are solely responsible for this, Lelouch vi Britannia. Your pride. Your bloodlust. Your weakness. Your hope. Each of your sins accumulate and taint this world, and stain it; like blood on a flower, you stain the world with every polluted breath. Truly, this is a world that is kinder without men like you. Without monsters like you. Without demons like you.

You are your father.

... But, alas. It falls upon you - and solely you - to clean this world. You have ruined it; wasted it; harmed it. You will never heal it, because you are not capable of such things, demon that you are. "Haa... Euphemia. I'll... take things from here. It'll be okay, so..." So that you can sleep easy, I will shoulder that burden, that was never meant for you. Lelouch does not wipe his tears. Zero puts his mask on, and slips from the room, to creep forward, to listen to the monster he created begin her work.

It is the least he can do. It is the most he can do. It is the only thing he knows how to do; 'make it stop hurting'. Tear the thorn out. 

<Pose Tracker> Suzaku Kururugi has posed.


Suzaku Kururugi has been looking forward to this day for a long time. The possibility of it is among the reasons he can bring himself to believe that the rot that pervades the world he's chosen to occupy isn't merely a terminal illness long past even the farthest reaching attempts of treatment. The sweetness and warmth that the source of that possibility radiates into the world had repaired the pillars of his psyche, or at least made them substantially less brittle. The lie that he told in order to bear the world that he made, made truth through persistence.

The Z-01 Lancelot is tucked somewhat out of sight, not intended as the main guard; he is an intended part of the ceremony, down the road, albeit ancillary to Euphemia and Zero. Still, these things have a way of attracting trouble and assassination attempts, and Euphy hasn't been spared scrutiny even from the inside of Britannia.

Were it a threat of such a nature, Euphemia's Knight might have been able to head it off.

But he can't account for a moment of knowing trust, colliding with a disastrous moment of out-of-control psychic power. He is situated at the back of the Lancelot, cockpit open and ascent line at ground level. Presently he himself is at ground level, and far enough away that the hum of chatter and the bustling of event managers drowns out Euphemia's words.

The change of energy that winds its way through the stadium and into the supporting staff and security is enough to get his attention, though. A half-second's hesitation -- surely, he thinks, it's just a natural reaction to the gravity of these concessions -- separates him from the first, orderly messages going over internal comms that woudl've told him it had all gone wrong.

He snags his earpiece out of his bag and affixes it to his head, toggling it on to the first noises of half-confused compliance. Simultaneously, there is a pulse of ... something ... that draws his attention way, a few words of confirmation being spoken drowned out by the emanation coming from -- unbeknownst to him -- the woman from that "bomb".

Tallied up, it's barely anything at all. The murmurs of an anxious crowd, the behind-the-scenes bustle of a major event, the hesitation borne of optimism, the psychic wail of two wounded souls he can barely sense. But today, 'barely anything at all' robs Suzaku Kururugi of the few fleeting instants he might have been able to course-correct with, if he'd known, if his buried cynicism wasn't on the cusp of being dispelled, if he'd hurried with just a fraction of his ability to do so.

Only a few more seconds more separate him from the realization of that fact, and these too are barely anything at all. But, sometimes barely anything at all is still too great a thing to overcome.

<Pose Tracker> Luanova Luckwright has posed.


        "I don't like this," says Luanova Luckwright, a young blonde woman in a semiformal dress and tam hat, as she seats herself in the dignitary section near the front of the stage, one of a handful of diplomatic observers from the neo-colonies. "They string a circle of Knightmare Frames around their big conciliatory agreement? This feels more like filling a pen for the slaughter." Two tall men flank her in dark suits and dark glasses, constantly scanning the surroundings. "We can get you out of here if you want," one of them tells the young lady. Luanova weighs her feelings with the situation. This is a police state, and it's not going to change too suddenly overnight, even if they're drifting towards rapprochement. "No," she begins to say...

        Could you all die, please? says the sub-viceroy.

        Some of those seated in the visiting dignitary seats begin to stand, those who need no more words to know what is about to happen is not what they were invited for. Some begin to speak out; Lua can feel there's no time for that. Still, she curses. She didn't think they really would fill a pen for the slaughter like this; from what she understands, they have plenty of slaughter without pens for it. The bodyguard urges Lua with a hand to her shoulder. "We need to go," he tells her, and she nods. They begin pushing their way sideways through the dignitary seats, moving early to get ahead of what they expect will soon become a panic. "Staff exit by the brocade if we can get through it," the other bodyguard says, rattling off from their preliminary scan of the exits. "Getting to the main exit from here will take us directly through the crowd where the trouble is going to start."

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        The students of GUTS have a prime place in the crowd, not far from the stage. Not in the front rows reserved for a special few, but close. This is a moment that could change the future of Britannian/OCU relations. An unprecedented movement towards peace and concessions for Britannian Areas. That's why they invited so many students from across the Earth Sphere. GUTS itself was a movement towards peace and connectedness among the new generation- so being here for this moment seems apt.

        In the crowd, amongst the GUTS delegation, Emilia Eschonbach waits nervously. She's here in two roles today: Her first is as a student of GUTS, invited to witness the momentous event- and one of the organizers for making sure everyone got in and out on time. She has a list of students memorized, a mix of international and local students. She's in her Ashford winter uniform plus leggings and a scarf- it's getting cold after all.

        But that's only one role.

        She looks at her second phone, nervously. She left her monitored one at the baggage check 'by accident'. Her long lavender hair is styled to cover her ears and tied in a loose braid- an unusual choice for her, but it's crowded.

        On the other phone, though...

        >In position, GUTS stands. Standing by for orders.

        It would have been strange for her not to show up, as one of the invited GUTS students and Ashford's student council president, which is why she's here and not waiting with Rapunzel overwatching the area in ECS. She also has the fortune of being positioned near friends.

        Still, she looks very tense- and a little warm. Maybe she's overdressed. "...I w-w-wonder how this is going to go," she whispers alowed to the people closest to her- Shari and Leina are well in position to hear. People who know a btit about her own feelings. "D-Do you th-think she actually means it?"

        Another text goes out, as she fidgets nervously, to Kallen outside.

        >Is everything okay on your end?

        And then the Princess makes her decree, and Emilia freezes. What? What!?

        Leina can feel it, the anger in Emmy rising.

        Of course. Of course it was a vain hope. You can never trust Britannia, not even the supposedly kindest of them. They're all monsters.

        >What's happening? Orders?

        The text ios hurried, hopefully HQ will send a message through the earpiece Emmy carries. A warning of what's happening.

        "G-Get down," Emmy speaks suddenly, as the crowd starts to get loud. Anxious. Angry. She's student council president. She's responsible for the Ashford students. But she's responsible for more then just them.

        "Take c-c-cover!" She yells more loudly, this time in Japanese. What the hell is happening? Who can she trust here to help. She looks around-

        And sees maybe the one person she knows can truly get attention here.

        "Sousuke! Get them t-t-to take cover!" 

<Pose Tracker> Rakshata Chawla has posed.


Rakshata Chawla had been reclining, as is her wont, upon the couch laid out in the mobile HQ center for the Black Knights. She was watching as things were arrayed around the grand announcement. The stem of her long pipe rested on her lower lip. She took it out of her mouth, began to twirl it -

'I have a favor to ask!'

'Could you all die, please?'

The twirl stops dead.

-=-=-=-

It is a measure of how dire a situation this is, perhaps, that Rakshata is now standing up, looking at the screens. As C.C.'s report comes in, she says in an irritated, almost wheedling tone, "That they'd go so far for THIS? It's a sick joke. I'm almost personally offended!" She folds one arm over the other and taps at her teeth with the pipe stem, not for the first time, as her eyes turn towards Diethard.

"Don't be ridiculous," Rakshata tells Diethard. "And --"

Rakshata's hands are full, one with the pipe and the other with folding artfully over her chest, and so one of her long slacks-clad legs comes up and rests her foot on the back of his head, craning it back towards the screen. "Don't let your admiration of the art interfere with your mission." Leaning forwards she says to him, "Our people are still in there, aren't they? My precious Guren's waiting to deploy. We're going to need those cold eyes of yours turned forwards, or all of this was just so much playing around."

Rakshata straightens up then, and in a separate action, takes her foot off the back of Diethard's head.

Despite this, she makes no overt commands, other than chewing on that pipe-end and gazing at the screens.

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


It's difficult to ever look at Britannia and not think of Neo-Zeon. Take their worst excesses, remove the Eco-fascism, and peel off the veneer of Chivalry to invest in Imperialism, Oppression, and Social Darwinism.

Yet perhaps she has had reason to reassess that. The Viceroy Cornelia had caused... mixed feelings, as of late, for her role in capturing Dr. Murasame. It certainly does not make her 'conquests' any better, but...

... perhaps there is nuance, in even in the Oppressor, mixes of good and bad in everyone. Certainly, it was the same in Neo-Zeon.

And she'd always liked Euphemia. Someone more than willing to work with Sayla and the Yumi Foundation for good causes, she was just - a genuinely good person, in Leina's eyes.

And so she made it a point to be here, for whatever pronouncement she might make in this stadium, seated with the GUTs students. Her Cathedra security detail spread out and mingling with the Britannian security detail at this point.

Certainly they don't expect anything to happen here with all the security, though one man is staying close.

Still she answers Emilia, knowing she's all nerves, "I think she means it. It's just- from what I know from working with Britannia, I'm not certain what kind of change she has the authority to make on her own."

Indeed, a few seconds pass, as Emilia fidgets, and Leina turns to Shari and ask.

"So how are you and Gerardo doing lately?"

Leina asks Shari, while waiting for her return, a way for her to distract herself from the tension.

A simple question, small talk. Catch up with Emilia and Shari.

Simple. Simple.

She's not certain if Emilia can be distracted right now with just simple talk of love, relationships...

... given her secret 'affiliation' but it's worth the attempt, perhaps.

It's only when Euphemia comes up on stage, with that gun in her hands that her expression changes. Confusion is on her face. Did something happen?

Did something break down? What? What? What could have happened?

When she makes her pronouncement that confusion grows, until her eyebrows shoot up, stunned in the moment, as something sharp spikes into her from C.C.'s despair, the anger from Emilia.

It's only when something bolts across her senses, white hot in it's understanding of her intentions that she speaks, "Oh God... She's not kidding-!"

How could this happen!? How! How!? She doesn't know-! Euphemia had always been so genuine! Even Sayla wasn't skeptical of her!

Yet she had to think, she had to act, suddenly ducking her head as Emilia tells them to get down, she gets behind the seat. Taking a firearm from her bag, and checking it, she tells the security who's also moving at the ready, "Enzo radio the others, have everyone assist current efforts to secure an evacuation route for the GUTS students."

Indeed in that moment, she gestures to Sousuke.

It took Enzo a moment to get his bearings as he too crouches down low, as he started to murmur into his earpiece before stating, "You're our top priority Ma'am." Leina darted a look at him with a look as serious as the grave. "Good to know. They're mine."

As if to tell him 'You want me to safety, then you help them.'

<Pose Tracker> Shari Loom has posed.


Shari Loom thought it would be a nice night out. A big event, from someone like she's heard Euphemia is. Sure, it's Britannian politics, but she had some hope for it anyway. So she's with the GUTS students when it happens, in that prime place by the stage. Her minor nobility affords her nothing more than that, after all. But this peace..

This peace is gone, suddenly. Shari, a represenative of the Student Council now, sits near to Shari and Leina. "I dunno," Shari admits. "But I think it's nice that she's trying." But the question for her? "Oh, real good, real good. I'm hoping to get out to see him next weekend..."

To Emmy, "I think it'll be nice," Shari says, just bfeore--A horrible, horrible echo. A slam that makes her wince, that dredges into her mind connectionspiders from outside--Then those words--

"W-what?" Shari starts, starting to laugh nervously. "You..."

She looks into Euphemia's eyes, from the stage, and she sees it, her mouth starting to widen in horror. "No," she starts. "No, you--you mean it, you--"

It's not the red ring; she doesn't see it. It's something else that makes Shari recognize it, and she freezes outright.

It's only when Leina pushes her down that Shari recognizes the world moving again, and abrubtly clings to Leina despite Enzo's attempts. "It's wrong! It's all wrong!" 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke Sagara ...thinks he is proud to be here. His own life has been jetsetting enough that his connection to Japan as a nation is weak at best, but the anxiety of Britannia's nearby occupation and ongoing beligerence has been obvious to him in his friends, even if he suspects they don't know it. In this way, his familiarity with squabbling tribes in the craters of the Impact Wars reminds him just how much politics remains convoluted, regardless of if the tyrant is titled Mayor or Emperor. But, today, things might just change, and begin to move for the better. He has a small smile on his face, sitting among his friends. Onodera and Shinji nearby, Mizuki Inaba as always hanging around, and Kaname here at his side, through it all. Odd Kyouko's not here though... "She'll miss the start," he notes to Kaname, matter-of-factly. "Ah, here she is." Different subject; the arrival of the Princess. He waits patiently for it.

.....that's not--

His eyes narrow. Where panic and fear or just sheer disbelief might settle into another, Sousuke immediately feels this world shift under his feet, but not to one unknown.

He is now on a battlefield. His friends are now in his world. None of them know it. "She's serious," he says to Kaname, to Emmy, to Leina. No time spent contemplating cause or reason. The chain of events that led to this moment is for others, for Tessa, for Hayashimizu, for Milly, for Emilia.

"The guards aren't moving," he mutters. "This wasn't the plan. But...she's Britannian." His eyes flick to Leina, then back to the stage. "Any second."

Emilia calls for his help. Leina does, too. He reflexively reaches for his weapon, of course, and...it's gone, because of course it is. As if the guards would let even an expert like him get away with such a thing. Kaname made him leave it at home. Plan B, then...he turns to Kaname. "Kaname. The earring I gave you. Do you have it?"
Shari Loom has connected. 

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

The Special Administrative Zone of Japan... On paper it sounds wonderful. An outcry for peace and restoration of rights to the people of Occupied Japan. And Euphemia sounds like a saint and a stark contrast from the rest of the royal family for pursuing it. But that's just it. The whole idea sounds too good to be true. And with royalty, that feeling is almost always true. Still... as much as she doubts it, she knows people who want to believe. She'll have to watch out for them. Make sure they don't get burned. Such was her train of thought when she agreed to lead one of the squads from her Guren today. Positioned closer than one might suspect, to the site of the announcement. Expertly hidden where it won't be seen until it moves to the streets.

And so, there she waits, watching the live feed. Observing how quiet everything is, while Zero is doubtlessly engaged with his part of the plan. Whatever his part may be. After all, they'll know when he speaks up with orders, or when he delegates it to C.C. In the meantime, she gets a text from Emmy. One she's prompt in responding to.

>Having a nervous feeling. Worried. But in position and ready.

And then Euphemia comes out. Then she makes her request, and Kallen finds herself teetering on the edge of falling into that place again. For an instant at least, as her fist tightens around a slight addition she set up inside the Guren. Something to help keep her in a focused and reasoning state of mind. She won't have another Tsutsujidai happen. Another rampage in red. Once she's calm again, she <"You heard their declaration. Zero Squad, get in, focus on rescue efforts. Coordinate with those you can. Do not engage in fighting unless your hand is forced, and do NOT try to nip this by killing her. You'll just get her guard team attacking us sooner. The civilian lives come first.">

With orders of her own dispensed, she listens to the reporting from C.C. And the raving of that TV Station lunatic. And while she hasn't been told to move in... She's going anyway. Guren may normally be seen as an omen of death and destruction. But today, it will be the symbol of salvation for some of those people. Just... please survive until then. She's pleading, unheard from inside. 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

This is good. This is exciting... is what Kaname wants to think. But she knows politics. She knows how this kind of thing is--lip service paid to reconciliation and peace, but in the end, there'll be little done.

The Federation's broken, after all. Her sullenness is easy enough for the nearby Leina to feel.

But she's glad to have Sousuke nearby.

As Sousuke notes Kyoko's absence, she looks around for the bespectacled, be-pigtailed Ms. Tokiwa. Nowhere to be seen. She pulls out her phone. "Weird... I don't have anything from her. Wonder where she is."

The train of thought is broken quickly enough by the arrival of Euphemia, and she looks up--

And her blood runs cold. She looks at Sousuke... who fears the worst, and for once, she agrees. She nods, hand diving into her bag to retrieve a small jewelry box. "CLOSE YOUR EYES!" she yells to her companions over the din of the crowd. A small, gold-colored earring sits inside, and she gives it a practiced pitcher's throw, as far out as she can, clearing the stands and bursting in a flash of blinding light.

Kaname grabs her bag. "Everyone, follow me! We need to leave!" With that, she makes for the exit, Sousuke in tow. 

<Pose Tracker> Xia Twins has posed.

It's time. The grand unveiling of the Special Administrative Zone. Princess Euphemia painfully earnest in her desire to bring this peace forth. But neither Twin can see a scenario where this is not a snare trap set down, for Euphemia or for the people she's gathered here.

They're not particularly read in on what Zero's plan is, if he even has one, but Yu Fan, in her Zy-98 Shadow gathers with the rest of the Black Knights' mobile weapon squad. It is specced for reconaissance for an event like this in particular, ECS invisibility making it perfect for avoiding detection..

Yu Lan, on the other hand, waits inside, blending in with the crowd. She does not carry any weapons. She does not need them.

But the nervousness and anticipation of the crowd quickly turns into fear and panic with one order. Even Yu Fan is shocked when Euphemia so casually tells all the Japanese in the crowd to die. "If this is a trick, she was not subtle about it..." Yu Fan considers, watching through the cameras of the Arm Slave. But she does not act - not until Kallen says the word, anyways. Rescue orders, it's strange to be taking those months off the back of rampaging a city into rubble. Or assassinating targets one by one. And while the more cynical side of her wonders if this was all part of Zero's plan, as some of the more hamfisted Black Knights seem to believe... it doesn't feel right.

Yu Lan, in the crowds, isn't particularly gentle in her approach. But she's pushing people to safety and that counts for something. She eyes Emilia, the girl her sister met the other day. And a glint of recognition at others in the crowd... is that Kaname Chidori? 

<Pose Tracker> Euphemia li Britannia has posed.

         "Wait, she's not serious is she?" One man asks.
         "What...?" An elderly woman says in confusion.
         "It's a joke, right?" Adds on a younger man.

         What comes are murmurs of fear and concern from various people in the crowds.

         "Oh..."

         "I was hoping that you'd commit suicide, but you can't, can you?" Euphemia considers this for a second and adds on: "Well then, soldiers - kill them all, please! Wipe them out!"

         It's a shock of words from the young woman that has so long championed kindness and pacifism, and the in-person crowd are bewildered at this stunning change of heart, and the reactions from the people on stage are also ones of concern and panic.

         Darlton is the first to take decisive action, ordering the microphones and cameras to be cut before more is broadcast. There is a rush on the stage as people stand and others make their appearance, but nothing has truly started yet - at least not until a gunshot shatters the crowds reactions and movements.

         In the front row of those in the field seats, an elderly man clad in gray looks down momentarily, seeing red cover the front of his sweater-vest, before sliding down to the floor.

         He's dead.

         Up on the stage, Euphemia has a slight smile on her face, almost in horrific, sadistict satisfaction.

         A woman's scream cuts through the crowd as Euphemia says: "Go on, soldiers - hurry!"

         Darlton addresses her more quickly. "Princess Euphemia! What is going on - what's come over you? Stop this, please, this is--"

         She shoots him. Euphemia li Britannia shoots Andreas Darlton, and she looks at him as he drops to the floor. "Forgive me, but I have to kill all the Japanese."

         She then turns and makes her order. "Now then, all Britannians!"

         "Kill the Elevens! All troops, exterminate the Elevens! Don't let one escape - kill them all!"

         The order is being passed on, and fulfilled, as gunshots ring through the stadium, accompanied by screams, cries of pain, and crying. For those that aren't quick enough, shots come to take them down, leaving people dead and draped over chairs, walls, or in fact, even other dead bodies. Unfortunately for all, most of the combat readiness here is on the side of the Brittanians in their Knightmare Frames; it is sharp, quick gunfire, that unless lucky, is going to lead to ones death. While some in the audience have the military or combat experience to know that they needed to move, such as the GUTS students and other military member, there are far too many civilians that can't believe this is happening.

         Euphemia li Britannia has blood on her hands. More than anyone could have ever hoped for. More than anyone could ever have wanted. 

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        All hell erupts, in chaos that is unthinkable for any normal person. All the sudden, a day of hope becomes a day of infamy - a bloody scar upon Japan that its people will never forgive.

        The screams of agony from that stadium, as countless distressed lives are eradicated unjustly - slaughter and agony, pain and despair, anger and confusion, seething rage all directed at Euphemia - all directed at a curse that the witch feels so directly -

        (The blood that splashes onto Euphemia's hands - onto Lelouch's hands - onto C.C.'s hands - - - a stain that will never be erased-)

        ...

        ...wouldn't be the first time.

        Towns burned to the ground in pursuit of the witch.

        Ruthless massacre in the colony of Boston.

        Paramilitaries scouring the streets of Lagos for the sake of the governor's vengeance.

        It's an unimaginable pain to any normal people. It's a dull ache seizing up C.C.'s throat.

        ...(this again.)

        "...Q-1. ...You're right to move in. I know Zero is okay. He's still alive in there. He's not dying on our watch. ...that's besides the point. Save them, Kallen. They need you. ...I'm sorry that I need to find Zero first and foremost. Accuse me of being a heartless witch as I'll deserve later - but for now-"

        ...What an awkward situation to be in, C.C. realizes. On occasion, she's filled this role, when Zero's off on one of his little schemes, but this time feels a little heavier. Until he's in contact - it falls to her, to prevent further loss of life. --"...That goes for all of you. Black Knights, move in. Euphemia li Britannia is now our enemy, and the Britannians are to be shot on sight. ...Don't avert your eyes. Burn this into your memory. This is what you're fighting for, isn't it?"

        Eyes narrowed, the Gawain rises above the crest of the hills, a signal to the surrounding Knights that it's time to assault the 'fortress'. The chaos and confusion of the massacre is to their advantage.

        But all C.C. can focus on is the G-1 Base that Euphemia exited from - the hovering Gawain swoops in right to the center of the maelstrom. As loudly as she can, she tries to signal to Lelouch, even with just the tone of her voice - "I'm coming. No matter what, I'm coming."

        -------

        "Tch, Rakshata - you must think I'm cruel and cold at a time like this." Diethard worries his lips together, toying with that lock of hair hanging down his face as he pushes aside the scientist's shoes from his head. "...And you're likely correct. But just as yourself, I am not here for empathy. I am here to do what I was taught best in the cesspit that is Britannia's state media - distort the facts and emphasize tragedy, all to further a cause. Surely - surely! Surely so many of us are blades forged by that empire, turned against it, are we not? We use their Knightmare Frames. We use their ideas of a 'knight'. Their tactics, their 'propaganda' - it is just as fair for us to wield that weapon!"

        Hands flying over the consoles, the cameras set up in the stadium flicker from the Britannians cutting off the feeds to blind the public from this massacre. "It does us no good for the public to avert their eyes. Look! Look at the frenzy in Euphemia's eyes! What a perfect symbol to rally against - what a perfect tragedy towards a free Japan. Is that not what we want? Is that not what we always sought - the freedom of this land's people, and breaking from the empire's grip? Then - this is the story that must be told! Of treason, of treachery, and of the Black Knights saving the day! Ahahaha...and, if we later find out Zero somehow orchestrated such a thing of his own doing...well? Will we damn him and damn the greater good, or will we accept the fastest way to our goal?"

        ...Understandably, the rest of the Knights in the command center are very unhappy at the mere suggestion. But now's not the time. It's all hands on deck, to save their countrymen, to purge the Britannian menace so obviously slaughtering the innocent. 

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        Emilia sees the earring go up, closes her eyes and covers her ears. She used to have a set just like it, after all. "F-Flashbang!" She shouts, in Japanese only. She learned the word after last time.

        A bunch of students are going to be dazed and disoriented. Fine, now's the moment. "Sousuke, L-Leina, Kaname, get everyone out! I'm g-g-going to make sure there aren't any. L-l-left behind!"

        She hopes they can hear her, as she ducks behind some seats. She shrugs off her Ashford jacket and skirt, balling them up and shoving them under the seat. She pulls up her hood to cover her hair, and slips a visor over her eyes. The flashbang should have left her ample time to change unnoticed- unless someone is paying enough attention to Emmy after that last burst.

        Now, dressed as a Black Knight, her most obvious tells hidden, she runs forward and to the side, pulling her pistol out from under her shirt. Maybe you overestimated Britannian security, Sousuke.

        She doesn't recognize Yu Lan, but having another agent here to cover them will help.

        Now, slightly away from the retreating GUTS, Emilia pops up out of cover and empties three shots into an approaching Britannian soldier- but one dead Britannian isn't enough to make up for all the other dead here.

        "Y-you bastards..." She swears, taking a few more shots, and looking to see if she can run for the assault rifle. She'll buy the others in GUTS time in as many Britannian soldierss as she can, while the others in the KMFs take care of everything else. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


Leina's hand yanks Shari down the moment she doesn't do it of her own accord, as she puts an arm around her, the one that's not holding the gun.

Sousuke's right, she can tell it with a glance, and the immediate standoff that's happening with the rest of the detail as they get in cover.

"That's a problem. They're armored, and have us all outgunned."

Indeed, Leina turns to Shari in that moment, and goes, "Hey- hey... no matter how it feels, just look at me." She takes a moment to make eye contact, "It's going to be okay. You're not alone in the middle of this. We're getting you out of here."

Indeed, as Sousuke murmurs about that earring, and Kaname yells something - Leina closes her eyes and brings Shari's head in close to make certain her sight is smothered.

"Hang onto me."

The Cathedra Security guards join in rushing a few Security Guards on the aisle, for a quick brutal melee while they're dazed by the Flashbang, though one of them takes a gunshot for their efforts.

Even as Leina hears what Euphemia has to say. It's like Shari says 'It's all wrong', yet Leina doesn't know WHY. "None of this makes any sense!"

And indeed as she's running, Leina looks sharply Emilia's way, "Emilia! Get out of there-!" She swears to herself, as Emilia runs for the assault rifle. "God don't make me deliver any bad news to Audrey today..."

She murmurs, even as she drags Shari along. Firing off a shot at one guard aiming Emilia's way.

Even as she keeps going, "Stay low - keep moving! Eyes on me!" Even as she tries to keep her eyes on Sousuke and Kaname - wherever they go, she has faith is definitely the way out.

<Pose Tracker> Suzaku Kururugi has posed.

Orders are relayed, and Suzaku Kururugi blinks. He raises his hand to his earpiece. "This is Knight of Honor, Suzaku Kururugi. Belay that. Who gave that order?" The chatter that reaches him is disturbing, to say the least. He knows that it isn't true; that it could be true is unfathomable. He knows Euphemia. His mind races through the possibilities. But the possibilities don't matter. The particulars don't matter. As long as everyone has received 'these orders', regardless of their validity, regardless of what is happening behind the scenes, he has an uphill battle to fight. He turns, beginning to trigger the elevation line on Lancelot--

A burst of gunfire slices it off near the top, and Suzaku stumbles forward and recovers, hostile eyes on his back. As the weapons fire repeats itself he races ahead of it, springing off of an adjacent wall and kicking his assailant to the ground with a cry of surprise and alarm and a distinct cracking of ribs from the impact point.

'Aren't you an eleven?'

Even if the order wasn't meant for him, that the people surrounding him who disapproved of him would take the opportunity should've been obvious. A nearby Sutherland broke away from the security wall, turning inwards in his direction. Another bark of gunfire chased him, this one more dangerous-- he retreats from it and bounds off the wall a second time, kicking off of Lancelots's knee, seizing the dangling remains of the elevator line, and hauling himself up into the cockpit.

'Marching Ever Onward To Tomorrow'

The interface start-up draws out a hollow laugh.

Tomorrow was easy, once. Tomorrow was a knife in hand away. But THAT had brought them HERE. If Suzaku had the hesitation then that he's tried to maintain up until now, would they be here? Would she be here? The possibilities fork. Look for her, protect the crowd, or-- or what?

A quartet of slash harkens come to life and tear the Sutherland firing on the Lancelot apart, leaving it a metallic nugget lying on the ground. This draws attention from more of them, peeling them away from their grim task. His hands shake on the controls as he charges forward, an impulse rising in the back of his mind.

You don't have to stop this, it says. You can take flight, and find her, and go. The shaking worsens. A sweep of blades goes wide because of it, though even an off-center hit cleaves the arm from a Sutherland that had raised a lance against him.

There is a stronger voice. It had been weak before, but it has -- gradually -- eclipsed the other. The lie that they had both turned into a truth. Wherever she is, and whatever she's doing, Euphemia wouldn't want him to turn his back on this kind of bloodshed just for her. Every Sutherland that's inoperable is several guns that can't fire into the crowd or those who are fleeing.

The knight toggles his external speakers, and activates his microphone to transmit as far around as he can.

<< "That's right," >> Suzaku finally answers the taunt that was delivered in the attempt to gun him down unceremoniously just moments before. << "So if you want to shoot an Eleven, shoot at me." >>

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

The flash of light and blast of sound startles people awake - the gunshot, too. GUTS has had lots and lots of experience with evacuations. As chaos begins, with Kaname calling for people to move, Sousuke centers himself and runs. "Right," he agrees to Emilia. He doesn't call to lead people; frankly, a lot of people who are going to evacuate are going to move AWAY from him, knowing his reputation. In fact.... "Kaname, Leina," he says. "I'm going to break for a further exit. What I need to do is going to be dangerous for people to be near. ...they might think to avoid me, anyway." ...a harsh assessment, but they know it's right. "I'll be fine. Get everyone out of here. We'll reconvene soon."

And then he's off like a shot, grabbing a folding chair, then charging off through the crowd to clobber the first soldier he sees to open up the net.

Soon, he's disappeared amid the churn of the crowd.

<Pose Tracker> Rakshata Chawla has posed.


Rakshata looks down at Diethard as he speaks so eloquently - as expected for media! Her lip curls, but only slightly, scenically perhaps. Her other hand goes on her hip. "Get everything you ca-an, then, just get it all on tape. They're going to cut the feeds before long, once they've picked their jaws up off the floor."

Rakshata bites on the step of the pipe again. She lets her lips wrap around it. Self-soothing behavior as she looms over the consoles. One of the cameras shows the wild look in Euphemia's eyes. "Lord grant mercy," Rakshata says, mostly as the commonplace phrase. "What got into HER?"

"Or was this all the plan...? A demonstration of absolute power?" Rakshata's arms fold a little tighter as she briefly wishes the pipe was both lit and not actually there entirely for saunter and swagger purposes. "Imagine how the OCU's going to take it..." Her voice lowers a little, "And the REA, for that matter... hm, hm...!"

"Was it worth it, Euphemia?" Rakshata asks as she gazes at the monitor. As she does this, she leans forwards, putting her hand on Diethard's shoulder as she does. The gore and horror doesn't seem to be repelling her, or if it is, it's on the level of 'ew, bugs' rather than... What you might expect.

"Zero Squad!" Rakshata instructs, pointing with her pipe at the signal camera. It produces a visual effect that makes Rakshata look macronized for a moment. She did this on purpose. "As you say - use your decoy smoke to try and interfere with target acquisition. Given that scuffle on the stage, I doubt they're going to be in complete accord... you have time to exploit!"

After this, she looks towards Diethard, who is like six inches from her face. "What do you think? Too much?" With this, Rakshata glances at the screen showing Euphemia-- even as the cut connections start interfering with their voyeuristic oversight. "Maybe this isn't the time for subtlety in performance, after all..."

<Pose Tracker> Luanova Luckwright has posed.


        Chaos erupts in the wake of gunfire. The Britannian soldiers are presumably as surprised as anyone else, but they're more than willing to carry out orders. Even so, those posted around the dignitary seats know that suppressing a rebel population is one thing, but mowing down the diplomats is picking a larger fight. Things will not remain so safe, as violence progresses, people disperse looking to flee, and the soldiers posted elsewhere move in to mop up the crowd. But now, in the fresh wake of violence, a number of dignitaries feel safe moving in on Britannian officers to voice their dissent and demand an escort out. A small, brave, and foolish handful move for the stage, to decry Euphemia in person. Kallen's flashbang stops most of them from progressing, lost in the smoke and light. This is likely for the best.

        Luanova Luckwright is not in that group. She's not going to stop to harangue an officer and demand an escort. There are kids seated nearby, the GUTS invitees from Ashford Academy, and to them and the Japanese seated closer to the stage, she shouts out. "There's a back entrance closer this way, at the brocade! It's too far to the other end, they'll lock it down!"

        A Britannian officer approaches her in the moment. "Hey! What are you..." Her bodyguards begin to draw weapons, but Lua acts before them. She pulls him in close, pulls his arm down to deflect the angle of his rifle barrel, wrenches it from his hands, and shoves him away, reflexively training the rifle back on him. "Do you want to assault a foreign diplomat, or do you want to go home with both your legs working?" The distraction should be enough time at least for a few people to get past. They'll have to deal with the Britannians inside the stadium building, but those are probably better odds than out here with the Knightmare Frames.

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Kaname stares at Sousuke, purses her lips... and nods. "... Okay. Good luck." She doesn't have time to argue, and she knows the kind of soldier Sousuke is. He'll be okay.

But soon after... one moment, she's helping to direct evacuations... and the next, amid a spike of alarm and anxiety, she's gone among the sea of human bodies and minds. 

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

C.C. gives slightly different orders, but she doesn't begrudge that. It's true that the Britannians have their own KMFs, and those will certainly become arbiters of death at the least provocation. Of some relief is the notion that Zero is alive still. But only a little. Heartless witch... no, Kallen would call her a lot of things. In particular, cryptic and frustrating. Willful and prone to whimsy. But heartless, no. Never. Still, she'll ask what that was about later.

Still, she's free to focus on the task at hand, without distraction. Or so she thinks at least. And witnesses a surprising ally as the Guren bounds into the arena, artfully avoiding fleeing civilians. Carefully navigating around the tides of the dead in order to shield the yet living, with its crimson body and silver arm. But... why? Why is that one protecting these people? Why is it tearing apart other Britannian knights? Kallen doesn't need an answer right now. Instead, her voice cuts crisp across communications to the other Black Knights. <"Do not engage the White Knightmare so long as it defends people as we do."> Strictly, she should be the only one who dares engage it at all. She isn't engaging it. Instead, as the Guren crouches to shield a small collection of younger civilians, huddled together in terror, a single Harken shoots out to gouge through the head of a Sutherland, and spare the Lancelot from the gunfire that was soon to strike across its back.

She won't hail it, or its pilot. But right now... Today they're allied. Following her lead, and Rakshata's suggestions, a few Burais armed with proper munitions engage smoke and chaff launchers into the set of Sutherlands and a thankfully immobile Gloucester. Immobile, as its pilot is not capable of reaching it and making use of its significant capabilities. Still... something about this feels off. As if she's missing a key piece of this. She'll just have to keep her eyes open, as she sees to evacuating as many people as possible. And as she ensures the Lancelot is able to keep moving, just that bit longer. 

<Pose Tracker> Lelouch Lamperouge has posed.

But the world is heavy. And aren't you weak? The distant gunfire and pistol in his grip give him a distant, aching, kind of nostalgia. But when he murdered Clovis; he was killing a rotten piece of trash, who did not deserve the air he breathed. It was his own fault, and his death was simply the result of the pendulum of Fate swinging back around, to crush him into nothing. Such is life; such is death. This is different. This is different, because -

Euphemia deserves only the best, and Zero could never offer that. Not for one second could he offer that. Clovis was different because he deserved to die, and Zero was simply an implement of it; Euphemia does not deserve this crime. And, yet. ... And, yet, with a simple curse, she has become as great a monster as he has. With but his word; he has created a demon. So fitting his title is, the King of Demons. So fitting his burden is, the Geass of Kings. This is your fault. This is your responsibility.

In a manner of speaking, if you think of it that way, isn't the 'kind and considerate Euphemia' who you - who everyone - cared about already dead? Hasn't that already happened? Didn't that happen when you killed her? Your order was as sure of a suicide as the orders to suicide. If you can pretend you believe that, then you can justify many things. And isn't that the grandest thing of all; you only need to believe it for a few seconds. It doesn't have to be long at all. A black cloak drifts through the backstage, through the confusion. How many are dead, already? He has a responsibility to them, too.

A responsibility to the entire world can't justify it. And it doesn't help. It helps that they can't see his face through the mask, as he raises the pistol. It helps that no one will judge him more harshly - no one who doesn't already judge him, of course. He will be a hero, again. It'll be just like Clovis. ... Euphy is not Clovis, but it doesn't really matter, anymore. People will imagine her that way, because -

Nothing helps the recoil. He's always hated that. The first shot goes fantastically wide, but it steels him, snaps him into place. The second shot is not wide. Nothing more need be said.

It only clicks after the round impacts. Not that 'everyone will see this'. That was fine with him; had to be fine with him. There's no problem with that. No, that has nothing to do with it. It's that voice... somehow, even here, they found a way to put someone else that he was supposed to protect on a battlefield. Who's joke is that? How many times will that happen? Something catches in his throat, when he hears His voice, from that distance. It makes sense. Of course it makes sense. But - he's going to die. Like grains of sand through his fingers, there is nothing Zero can do to protect him. Not from here, at least. How many more people will he look in the eye, and have to fight, to save?

How many more loved ones will he point this gun at?

It all matters. Not for one instant would he say 'it does not matter'. But; he can't stop for that. He can't stop for anything.

<Pose Tracker> Euphemia li Britannia has posed.

         "Who gave that order? She did!" Someone does reply to Suzaku, even as Euphemia repeats herself.

         "I, Euphemia li Britannia, order you! Kill all of the Japanese!"

         The fact that she's invoked her name makes it a valid order, and one that, to some of the fighters it is a release of aggression they have had pent up. Others, just since they don't want to risk getting caught in the fray, start firing as well, and generally there is action. There is no harm in going into that action - it is the firing upon hundreds if not thousands of innocents. Standing on the stage, Euphemia watches the massacre occur.

         The first shot goes wide, as it should to alert her, and Euphemia turns to face Zero. Her gaze falls on him for a moment, and she reaches out her hand, entreating. She opens her mouth to speak again- and the second shot makes it mark.

         Euphemia li Britannia goes down, shot by the leader of the Black Knights, admidst a massacre of their own making.

         "... we could have ruled over it, together..." She murmurs softly... "Zero... -------..." The last word incomprehensible. 

<Pose Tracker> Lelouch Lamperouge has posed.

Zero does not look at the woman he has shot, as he stomps over her form. There is hardly any need to. He has killed her, she was dead before he shot, he killed her for her own good, he killed her for the good of Japan - none of that matters, in this second.

There is only one way to save her dream, and it is to crush her memory, and to drag her corpse through the mud. Lelouch can't look at her while he does it. He can't look down, and he can't look back. His glove wraps around the microphone - Euphemia's weapon, and now his - and lifts it. He saw her, on accident.

This is your burden to carry. This is the final, natural, result of your dream, your wish. How greedy you were, to try to save so many; to keep so many safe, even your enemy. Her mistake is clear, isn't it? She reached out to a demon. She allowed room for him. If she had simply rejected him outright - if she had tricked him, or had him attacked, or were more of a monster, a soldier, if this was all some grand game or strategy, then she would get to keep living. But Euphemia... was bad at the games he plays. She is not like he is. The world would be better if it allowed her to keep being as she was.

So long as monsters like Zero exist, they cannot. But so long as monsters like Charles exist, Zero must. And as long as Zero exists, this will keep happening. Forever. Gently, he shakes his head, and speaks.

First - an order. Unnecessary, as his soldiers - his Knights - know their duty well. "Black Knights, excellent work. Continue as you are; destroy the Britannian force where possible, and secure the rescue cordon for Japanese." They brought a guard force. He did not, because he is a monster, and planned to kill them in the first place. Euphemia wouldn't have expected the brutality he is capable of. His stomach churns, and his vision blurs.

"Japan - all of Earth, and beyond - look. Look at what our attempt to take their offer brought us. Look at what Britannian Generosity looks like. Blood and betrayal - as always. Will you still chastise us for our struggle? Will you still look down on it? Even this was a trap. Even this 'gifted freedom' was another Britannian ruse, to slaughter us." It isn't true. It isn't true. He's lying, because the truth is impossible to tell. Because a lie gives him what he wants. Because a lie gives Euphemia what she wants, at the cost of everything she worked for. "I refuse to work slowly and patiently any longer. The struggle and sacrifices, the blood and sweat of Japan is not for Britannian nobles to make light of. Not anymore."

"I, Zero, of the Black Knights, utterly refuse cooperation with the Britannian Union, and instead offer this: Withdraw from the borders of the newly born United States of Japan, or I will destroy you, as you have promised to destroy us. If you do not leave, we will chase you out. To the rest of the Federation; I ask for your assistance in punishing this grave massacre. Will the world watch as Japan frees itself, or will it do something worth remembering?"

There is no other way for him. He can only fight for a better future. He can't make peace for one. The only thing people like him can do - can ever do - is destroy his enemy. Even if the entire world is his enemy; then he will burn the world to embers.

His speech concluded, he finally looks down - back - and then away. There is nothing more for him to see. And as always - Zero must run, as fast as he can, before his thousand enemies catch him. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


Over the panicked throng, it's difficult to hear Sousuke, but still she manages to mostly catch his intent, "Alright. Counting on you." Then she adds quickly, "... To come back too!"

When Sousuke takes up a folding chair, Leina has this moment of thinking Sousuke, despite his odd quirks might have fit in on Shangri-La quite well.

In the end, Leina looks over her shoulder, to see Euphemia falling upon the stage. She knows the pain, the horror of being shot.

She can certainly see it in the other bodies, too, those who were slain in the initial brutality of the massacre.

For one long moment, she can only stare at a single body. Thinking of what it was like. It is a different context, circumstances. The Princess was shot to preserve life.

It all went wrong.

An echo, of a memory. Not a question, merely a statement of fact. She does not understand how it went wrong. Yet, it did, all the same.

She looks away, pulling Shari along, down the rescue corridor. Zero makes his pronouncements. And some part of her - some part of her...

She doesn't know.

It's still the same kind of world where nothing makes sense, and girls lay in pools of their own blood.

The Britannian Princess becoming the Genocidal Oppressor makes sense - save when it's Euphemia. It doesn't. It doesn't fit.

It just fits what she knows of this awful world. It changes people. Perhaps it changed her, or perhaps it simply destroyed her, as a sacrifice.

The efforts of the Black Knights, of Sousuke, the evacuation corridor opens up. And she moves out of the main killing floor of the stadium, holding Shari's hand.

She won't forget the girl laying in a pool of her own blood.

She can't.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

        A gunshot rings across the stage, as the vessels of the King and Queen converge upon the stadium - the Gawain's fires of judgment and Guren's claw of vengeance alike melting the Britannians who would waste their ammunition upon civilians.

        The familiar stench of blood in the wake of a massacre - C.C. doesn't need to be outside the cockpit to know it. This much death permeates far deeper a sense.

        It is only stopped with one last slaughter, of someone who, by all rights, should have been 'innocent', but instead, will be remembered as one of the most heinous killer of innocents in history. Euphemia's fate...barely interests C.C., since yet again - this is hardly the first she's seen.

        Behind Zero's proclamation, as the dust settles - the Gawain that has become his chariot settles, and Lelouch can surely feel the stare into the back of his skull. The witch he made a contract with, judging, appraising - trying to read between his words. Reading into the subtle ways she knows he improvises vs. prepares - how he perfectly covers up his physical anemicness with a few little repositions.

        "...this came as much a surprise to you, didn't it?" C.C. sighs to herself, understanding just where the barrier between Lelouch's hubris and conscience lay. Somehow - after all this bloodshed - the outcome is something unimaginable.

        "...well, no matter where you run - I'll be at your side. That much, we promised."

        ------

        "And so, a nation is born...!" Diethard gasps, camera trained on every second of Zero's public appearances at all times. This moment, right here - this is what he was born to seize.

        History being made - and it is his to make it.

        A speech that will doubtless be played countless times - and his footage will be the source. He can feel it. The steadiness of his hands will be etched into the teachings of so many students of this oh so turbulent time in history. The eye of the camera is that which audits the rise of power, long before the Universal Century and long into it.

        "...Zero...to think you've come so far! From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you had more in you than mere theater. Yes. You were so plainly the one - so obviously the scion of revolution. If you couldn't do it, the world would make you do it. Ahahaha. Ahahahahaa!!!!"

        The greatest cheerleader of Zero's proclamation is the man who does not believe in it at all...

<Pose Tracker> Suzaku Kururugi has posed.

When you don't expect to last the night, and perhaps not the hour, things have a way of slowing down-- and that's true of battle in general, as well. There are too many things to process, and while Suzaku prioritizes the ones related to survival -- his, for the moment, and other's more pressingly -- the appearance of the Red Knightmare drags conscious thought back up to the surface. It's just one slash harken, but it's still help. He thinks, hard, for a moment about how many friends he really has-- and how many really got to know who he was.

Not many. He lied to most of them. The only ones who have gotten all the way past his obstructions and self-deceptions... just the two, really. Lelouch, he's had cause to lie to recently. By omission, if nothing else. Euphy... he hadn't lied to Euphy, at least no more than he lied to himself. The rest? The student council, everyone... how much of them had they actually seen? How much of them had HE seen? How much of it was a cloth-thin veneer of a normal person moving through life?

They might never have spoken...
And he doubted they'd ever have the chance.

But in that moment, Suzaku felt like that Red Knightmare's pilot was a closer friend than all but two people in his life. He toggles one of his cameras, zooming in on what Guren is protecting. Maneuvering, for a moment, the Lancelot turns and darts across the line-of-fire Britannian forces have on the Guren, blaze luminous alight and flickering-- it's only an instant, just as her aid was only a harken.

In that instant, a gun goes off--

The Lancelot halts, still under fire-- increasingly concentrated. A cold feeling settles into Suzaku's stomach. No, it's not his stomach, he can feel something wavering. Something...

A second gunshot. He doesn't know how he knows who was hit, but he does. Threads wound tightly together slacken, and then tense.

The White Knightmare maneuvers backwards, but it has to move so slowly to not hurt or kill the wounded strewn about-- it engages its float system, coming down as Zero himself takes flight. Hostility does not radiate from it, as it might were some attack imminent-- and the concentrated fire coming down on the Lancelot eases up only because of WHO it is soon standing over. It bends down and lifts her up, flight unit flaring and carrying it above the stadium, out of the range of all but one of the knightmares stationed here.

For a moment the Lancelot simply hovers, its optics angled down towards Guren.

If he stayed, together maybe they could stop it almost entirely. If he stayed, he would trade her one life -- already guttering out, maybe irrevocably lost already, lost in spirit if nothing else for certain -- for dozens, maybe hundreds. If it was even two, that was already a better deal than the uncertainty ahead of him.

But the idea of Euphemia laying there like a marionette with her strings cut, surrounded on all sides by no one, not one single person on her side...

He can't. He can't make that deal. If the only thing he accomplishes is letting her die someplace more peaceful than this, that's what he has to do.

Suzaku's breath hitches and the Lancelot fires off into the sky.

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Once Sousuke's made enough racket and shot a few guards to get attention off the fleeing protesters, he disappears into the structure of the arena. Hopefully, he can make enough racket they send people to HIM. He's going to have to get help. He checks his phone, but with the Invisible Burst still blazing strong, he can't call for help. Fortunately, Minovsky warfare means the landline is still a ubiquitous technology. A loud BANG thunders through the halls as Sousuke blows the lock off a parking office door, runs in, and--

The phone's already ringing. Something runs down his spine but he still marches over to pick it up. It is, after all, his responsibility as a good samaritan. "Hello. It's unlikely the owner of this office will--"

"Mister Sagara."

His teeth slam shut.

"A bit more of a racket than I expected...but that serves our plans. You will disappear amid this chaos as nothing but a footnote."

"...who is this?"

"Weren't you wondering where she was?"

And then, frightened and trembling: "Sousuke? What's going on! This man has a gun!"

Kyoko Tokiwa. His missing friend.

Sousuke's fingers curl. "What do you want?"

"Report to the D exit for your execution. If you don't, this girl won't be the only one of your friends who disappear in this catastrophe's statistics."

The line goes dead. Sousuke's hand trembles on the receiver.

Then he slams it back into the base hard enough that the whole unit shatters.

<Pose Tracker> Luanova Luckwright has posed.


        Luanova, with quick, practiced movements, unloads the ammunition from her stolen rifle, and then throws the rifle to the side. It's risky enough pointing a gun at a soldier here in the first place; it wouldn't be good to be seen carrying it with her. Her bodyguards are armed, regardless, and they cover her retreat into the staff exit into the backrooms of the stadium. There's no mistaking her for one of the 'Elevens,' and that will give her the opening to shout down and harangue any Britannian security that tries to stop her exit from the building. That, in turn, will provide a distraction for the stray students and Japanese that are able to follow her advice and push through the back exit with her.

        There's not enough for her to do here. Even if she could get through to Mother, she wouldn't risk war to send the frame, and her bodyguards continue to urge her forward, Luanova's safety their only priority.

        By the time she gets out the other side and to her transport, she will have been able to pull the three survivors of a single shocked Japanese family fleeing out the building with her into her transport, where they won't be stopped by the Britannians on their way out of the area. Whether they will be able to return to their home is doubtful. Lua will have to fight just to secure short-term refuge for them in the colonies.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

The 'head' of the Guren lifts slightly, when the Lancelot briefly approaches. There are no words further, in that instant. The pilot feels a brief understanding between them, all the same. Knowing from his voice who had been there. And her own anonymity won't last much longer either. Before he knows who is in the Red Knightmare. A matter of days? Weeks at most, before the reports start coming in. Still, she recognizes the gesture of aid. Truthfully, there's little more she CAN do to help him, than harken maneuvers. Guren is after all, a machine designed for up close combat. It has a singular gun, one which expels explosive rounds. Grenades... Nothing she would dare use in this theatre of death. 'Suzaku... I'm sorry this is the way things have gone.' A thought. A deep regret. Though she lacks the nature to broadcast such a thing.

The one thing she can do, is gesture to Lancelot with one hand, as she uses Guren's body in the manner of a shield. The motion means only one thing, 'we'll save them.' It's true, that between the two of them, they might save more working together. It's true that she doesn't understand WHY he's running away with the princess, as she slowly fades into the dark. But... she understands that sometimes, you have to follow a feeling that may not seem 'right' to others, in the moment.

After all, it's only a few moments later, as she's rounded up another group of both young and old civilians to see away to safety, that she spots something herself. Interesting point of note; Guren lacks the traditionally obvious Factsphere readout of most Knightmare Frames. Its sensor suite is another of Rakshata's more minor alterations to set it apart from other KMFs. And that suite is how in the moment, she notices Sousuke Sagara. How he slips away in another direction. His unusually stiff posture, even by his standards. Noting that, she barks out a set of directives to the squad operating under her direct command, making it clear she will not accept a failure to follow them. Elaborating to them exactly how to seek out and escort remaining people to safety, whether Japanese, Britannian, or any other nationality. If they aren't trying to shoot or stab or otherwise harm civilians, they're to be protected.

She knows.... she's dooming some people she could have protected. But... Sousuke looks like he's walking toward his own grave. She can't forgive herself for abandoning these people... but all the moreso, she'd never forgive herself for abandoning him when she's the only one who can help. She can't imagine Emmy or anyone else would forgive her either. And so, the Guren also slinks away.

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