22 Chapter Twenty-Two: A Clash of Queens

Shin had pulled back after Kallen had attempted to pounce on him.

"Damn," Kallen hissed.

From the ship above them, Knightmare Frames belonging to the Black Knights descended on strong parachutes, cannons from the Valhalla disrupting Order of Michael lines, preventing them from shooting down the Black Knights.

Once they landed the Black Knights took advantage of the confusion, the voice of Zero directing them from atop the protective wall surrounding the castle. He stood with his hands spread out as if he were a conductor before an orchestra.

"Kallen, rally with your squadron and push hard on the Canterbury. That walking cannon is our biggest obstacle," said Zero over the radio.

"Right," said Kallen.

She pushed forward and those who had been assigned to her squadron and rushed on the walking cannon known as the Canterbury. It fired once but Kallen and her group quickly scattered away from the blast. Once she was close enough Kallen motioned the Guren to leap upon the walking cannon and unleashed the full fury of her Radiant Wave Surger.

The cannon began to burst with the energy that was being filled within it and when Kallen had her machine leap off of it, the walking weapon erupted in a fiery blast.

From atop his place on the wall Lelouch looked down and smiled beneath the mask of Zero. Kallen was doing beautiful work. Her righteous fury would make short work of Shin's men and soon shin himself. The forces he had deployed were more than enough to deal with the Order of Michael.

"Ohgi, order the Valhalla to follow the rout of the Cthulhu," said Zero. "The W-0 pilots will need a lift."

"Are you sure Zero?" asked Ohgi. "The firepower on the Valhalla is more than enough to help take care of the Order of Michael."

"Kallen and the ground forces can handle this rabble," said Zero. "He came expecting an abandoned band of nobodies whom the E.U had callously tossed aside. Shin Hyuga Shaing did not expect to be matched with the power of the Order of the Black Knights. This will be my uncle's greatest folly, placing a fool in his Eden Elite. And once the world has seen that indeed my uncle's Eden Elite are not invincible, that his madness had made him incompetent enough to lose half of his Empire, the true revolution will begin. Now, go, our new allies may need help coming home. I promise you this, when you return with them the battle will be over and it will be our victory."

After a long pause Ohgi finally responded, "Roger that."

"But before you leave, give out a parting gift to Shin's rear forces," said Zero.

Shin rode on slicing down any enemy Knightmare Frame he came across. As he pushed the Vercingetorix on he smiled as he saw the ship above them leaving the sky.

"Jean, rally the Order and hold the Black Knights," said Shin. "Then we will begin the Ghost's Curse."

Kallen noticed the departure of the Valhalla. She questioned why Lelouch would order the ship away given its huge asset to the battle.

"Amaterasu, hold back for a moment," said Zero, over the radio. "Ohgi is giving a final gift to the Order of Michael."

Kallen halted and her squadron followed suit. She watched the Valhalla depart but not before a large object fell, a whistle ringing out in the air. The object struck at the large mass of Euro Britannian forces in the rear of the siege, exploding with the fury of a god's vengeance. Kallen held tightly to her Knightmare's controls, the shock of the bomb's explosion rattling her slightly.

She recovered quickly and opened her radio to all channels, placing her own mask over her face, becoming Amaterasu, the Red Queen.

"The Order of Michael is shaken, we can finish them off if we push forward," said Amaterasu.

She charged forth in the Guren with the forces of the Black Knights rallied behind her.

'Lelouch, if I win this battle for you will you give me an answer?' she thought as she charged into battle.

From the departing Valhalla Nina could only look down in terror. Seeing the destruction her device had caused made her ill. There was also the fact that she had used it against fellow Britannians while on a ship full of 'Elevens', though she never said that word with so many of them around.

She hadn't fully intended to be on the ship with all the 'Elevens' but she and Shirley had followed Milly's lead. They had both been worried about their friend and still following her lead she actually assigned them both to the ship with the Black Knights. Of course the fact that Rakshata had apparently taken a shine to Nina had helped Milly's choice to put her on the Valhalla.

And to be fair Nina didn't mind being placed under Miss Rakshata. She was a woman who was as brilliant as she was beautiful.

"Impressive work my dear," said Rakshata herself, bringing Nina from her thoughts.

Nina gasped as she looked up to Rakshata, twirling her pipe in her fingers, looking down at the devastation caused by Nina's bomb.

"I...I never thought it would be like this," said Nina. "When I was working on the projections they were just numbers."

"But now you realize the truth of being a weapons maker my dear," said Rakshata. "The things you birth will bring death to others."

"Like your Guren," said Nina.

"Indeed," said Rakshata. "My beloved child is a weapon of war, designed to destroy the enemy."

"But my enemy is my own country," said Nina.

"They are not our countrymen," said Viletta Nu, also observing the damage done by the bomb. "These men do not deserve your sympathy girl. They turned their swords on their own countrymen. They obeyed the Usurper V.V. and if they had the chance they'd have killed you without a second's hesitation."

"And how are...others here different?" asked Nina in a whisper, as not to attract the attention of the many Japanese soldiers working on the ship.

Viletta caught this and ushered Nina to a nearby elevator as to gain privacy. Rakshata walked along if only because she was bored and her couch was nowhere to be seen.

Once inside the elevator, the doors closed behind them, Nina suddenly felt as if she were back in school and being disciplined by her teachers.

"You don't strike me as one who buys into V.V's ideologies of racial superiority," said Viletta. "You're honestly too meek for that."

Nina merely looked down to the floor as Viletta peered into her. Rakshata merely watched out of a sense of enjoyment, human drama being very entertaining to her when she wasn't busy working.

"Miss Viletta, why did you choose to serve with this faction?" Nina asked, finally finding some courage. "Among all these...these..."

"Japanese, girl," said Viletta. "Better start using the correct term. Now that I think of it, weren't you part of the group that had been held hostage by the JLF?"

"Yes," said Nina.

"I'm guessing that a key reason you can barely look at our Japanese crew," said Viletta. "As for your question, I joined this faction because...because there's a man whom I've become attracted to. By law he was a terrorist and from his perspective I had been a tyrant. Still, when I was captured by the Questing Beast and nearly sacrificed by his cult he actually joined in searching for me. Whatever negative interactions you may have had with the Japanese understand that their fury comes from a place of frustration of a life under us. Venting our own frustrations onto them for the tyranny V.V imposes on us. It's a cycle of vicious tyranny that needs to end. It begins with conquering the fear his reign has instilled in us all."

Nina said nothing as the elevator came to the bridge where Kaname Ohgi stood at the helm. Viletta walked straight to his side and took his hand.

The loss of a third of their forces were a blow but Shin was not deterred. His order for his knights to pull back had stood despite the loss. The Black Knights were doing exactly what he had hoped in response to this, getting together in formations to try and box in the remaining Michael Knights.

The greater numbers of the Black Knights were circling around his forces. While he had hoped that the Ghost's Curse would be used against his brother, he had been forced to change the plan.

He wondered just how Zero would react when he saw the curse in action.

Zero looked down at the battle, the display of the battle laid out in his mask. Whereas like in Chess the goal was to capture the enemy king, Lelouch chose to follow the game of Go and gain the most territory over the enemy.

He had destroyed the rear, eliminated their greatest weapon, and disrupted their lines. Now they were scrambling to reassemble and Kallen and the other Black Knights were closing in on them like wolves closing in on lost sheep.

'Once they're all together Kallen will wipe them out like fish in a barrel,' thought Lelouch. 'Then, Kallen...I will tell you what truly goes on in my heart. You will know...'

The Black King's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of several explosions. On the display he saw how several of his forces were suddenly being wiped out.

"What?" he roared.

Amaterasu barely had time to dodge her machine as one of the Michael Knightmare Frames charged into her squad's formation and suddenly exploded. The shock had been enough to rock her in the cockpit. She would have had a concussion if it weren't for her protective mask.

Once she regained her senses she looked out and saw her squad had been almost completely wiped out.

Kallen quickly brought up a display of the battle and found that the same thing was happening to other friendly frames. Minimal losses on the remaining Michael Knights, but thanks to the powerful explosives on several of their frames they were taking out scores of allied frames.

This was allowing the remaining Order of Michael forces to come in and wipe out those who remained from the suicide bombers.

"They were planning to use suicide bombers," said Amaterasu. "Damn you Shin, are your men nothing more than pawns to you?"

These cowardly tactics were disrupting Lelouch's plan. Kallen knew she had to end this quickly before more of her comrades were lost. She had to achieve this victory for Lelouch, to justify his faith in her that he would allow her such great power, and to earn the answer of if he truly loved her and wanted her as his queen.

'I'm coming for you Shin,' thought Kallen, driving her Knightmare onward.

Shin smirked as he saw the display of enemy Knightmare 'lost' signals. The Ghost's Curse, using the same strategy used when his brother, Hannibal's Ghost, became known and wiped out the Order of Raphael.

He had hoped to use this once he had gotten into Castle Weisswolf, but Zero had forced his hand. At least he had managed to use the strategy to weaken the Black Knight's offensive. If the ship were still overhead the battle would still favor Zero. But for whatever reason Zero had apparently sent his ship away and his arrogance was coming back to haunt him.

He then noticed one enemy frame racing towards him. From the location on the field he guessed it was most likely that crimson Knightmare that had nearly pounced on him. He felt an odd sensation come from that Knightmare when he saw it before. The pilot was a Geass User most likely.

"Jean, take a unit and converge on the red Knightmare," said Shin. "If you can bring the pilot to me alive. If not then it is of no consequence."

"As you wish Lord Shaing," said Jean.

Jean led out with her Gracchus to capture the Guren, taking with her a several elite units with her.

From atop his position Lelouch cursed as his forces were decimated by the surprise suicide bombers. Now the numbers were shifting in favor of the Order of Michael. Although Kallen appeared to be making swift work of the error. Lelouch watched as any enemy Knightmare Frame was instantly wiped out before her. It was truly amazing to see her prowess in battle.

He then noticed a squadron of enemy Knightmares heading in her direction. Although he had complete faith in Kallen's skill, none the less he felt concerned. She had come to take a very important place in Lelouch's heart. Thinking back to their childish bickering when they first met, Lelouch couldn't help but smile. Back then he had thought Kallen to be nothing more than a reckless liability. But the things they had seen together, shared together, had forced Lelouch to see her differently.

She was like him, someone whose family had been torn apart by the wickedness V.V had brought into the world. Her brother turned into a monster, her mother made mad, forced to hide who she really was in a nation ruled by his wicked uncle.

She had a spirit that was like fire and it was beautiful to him. But when her spirit was lessened by the tragedies that befell her loved ones, Lelouch felt the desire to comfort her. To nurture the embers of her spirit against the cold winds of despair so that once again it could become a great bonfire of righteous passion.

And just as he had comforted her, she had comforted him.

He had long sealed his heart to those who could have loved him in such a manner, albeit reluctantly. He know it harmed Shirley, whose love for him was obvious. And although he admired her kindness and her intelligence, he simply didn't feel the same way for her that she for him. If he were to follow his father's example he would have tried to establish several concubines to best spread his genes. But his father had come to love his mother more than any other woman in court, even the ones that bore his first children. Charles had referred to his mother Marianne as the true queen, his true queen.

So in truth it would be meaningless for Lelouch to try and establish numerous concubines of his own when in his heart he knew, he had found his true queen.

Kallen had plunged the Guren's clawed arm into a Sutherland swordsman and unleashed the fury of the radiation weapon. The enemy frame blew apart and was nothing more than hot, twisted shrapnel.

When the smoke cleared Kallen saw another foe standing before her. It was a different style of Knightmare than the other ones. Kallen recognized it as being close to the golden Knightmare Shin had used. It stood alongside four other Knightmares that soon made to surround the Guren.

"Lord Shaing demands your presence," said the pilot of the lead frame through its speakers, a woman.

"I'm looking for him too," said Kallen. "I intend to give his body to Zero."

The other frames charged at the Guren, but Kallen chose to activate her Geass and focused the combustion of flame on each of the Knightmares that charged at her as she motioned her machine to leap out of the way.

She took advantage of the natural confusion and panic of the pilots in the burning enemy mechs and drew forth her MVS. Charging at the closest near her she drove the knife into the cockpit of the blazing enemy Knightmare and tossed it at another. She then drove her clawed arm into the torso of the third frame and activated the Radiant Wave Surger, resulting in its explosion.

The fourth frame flailed in fire before the pilot activated his escape hatch. But as this happened the leader shot the cockpit, killing the fleeing pilot.

"You shoot your own men?" cried Kallen.

"Lord Shaing has ordered no surrender, no retreat," said Jean. "If that man could control his machine enough to activate his escape even as his machine burned he should have been able to give some attack against you even if it cost him his life. Cowards like that have no place in Lord Shaing's forces."

"You sound like a true fanatic," yelled Kallen, charging out with the Knightmare's knife.

Jean responded by bringing out the Gracchus's sword to clash with the Guren's knife.

"These flames, a result of your Geass no doubt," said Jean.

"You know about Geass, so I'm guessing you're not enslaved by that madman Shin, is that it?" asked Kallen.

"How dare you insult him?" roared Jean.

She kicked at the torso of the Guren, using it to leap behind and drew forth her Knightmare's rifle. She fired but Kallen was quick in recovering and maneuvered past Jean's gunfire. Kallen then drew forth her own Knightmare's hand gun and fired at the Gracchus but Jean proved herself to be just as agile as Kallen in terms of piloting skill.

The two female knights both continued to fire at each other. However just as much as they fired they both equally failed to make their mark. Eventually both women had run out of rounds.

"Close combat it is then," said Jean, drawing forth the Gracchus's sword.

"Agreed," said Kallen, drawing the Guren's knife.

The Order of Michael had taken full advantage of the confusion created by their suicide bomber tactics. However the voice of Zero had rallied them back to action. And indeed Zero himself had chosen to enter the fray.

He came down through a secret tunnel on the far end of the castle. With the use of his Geass had commandeered an Order of Michael Knightmare Frame and brought several others under his thrall.

He then quickly began to take control of his forces, ensuring he was at the lead. Often he would use his Geass, focused towards the pilots of the enemy Knightmares to bring them over to his side. The thought 'be my slave' piercing into their minds and breaking their wills.

As he did this though he was sure to keep an eye out on the Guren's signal. Though when he saw the large pillar of smoke not to far from where he was fighting he had a good idea of what was going on.

Kallen and Jean matched each other blow per blow. When Jean would attempt to use the greater length of her sword to try and turn the tide of the battle in her favor, Kallen would use the long right arm of the Guren to try and compensate.

"I'm surprised you haven't tried using your Geass to give you the edge in this fight," said Jean.

"I don't need it to beat someone like you," said Kallen. "All you have is a blind loyalty to a madman serving under a demon. I have justice on my side."

"You will not mock Lord Shaing," roared Jean. "I have no care for justice or for the policies of the Emperor. All I desire is to fulfill the wishes of my lord."

"So that's it? No cause, no ideals of your own?" asked Kallen. "Just for the sake of someone who would order the deaths of his own men. Possibly even yours if he ever got the whim."

"It doesn't matter," yelled Jean. "He could throw my life away if he so wished. If it would make him happy, if it would help him fulfill his desires, then I would do anything even willingly give my life for him. Besides, are you really one to judge?"

"What are you talking about?" yelled Kallen.

"The way you spoke of Zero," said Jean. "The tone you had in your voice. It is the same I have when I speak of Lord Shaing. You claim to be fighting for justice but in the end you just want to please your lord as I want to please mine."

The two female Knightmare pilots clashed with their respective bladed weapons once more.

"Don't pretend that you know me," yelled Kallen.

"I know enough about you...Kallen Kozuki," said Jean.

Kallen gasped and for a moment lost her concentration. This allowed Jean a moment to throw off the Guren and slice off the left hand which carried the knife.

"Lovecrest shared many details of the time he previously clashed with your group," said Jean. "Including the identity of Zero, the banished prince Lelouch Vi Britannia."

Kallen drew back, avoiding the blade of the Gracchus, removing her damaged mask and doing a quick check over the systems of the Guren.

"Lord Shaing ordered me to bring you to him alive if it were possible," said Jean. "I'm sure he will be merciful if you comply."

"Never," said Kallen. "I am going to either kill him or deliver him to Lelouch. And you are not going to stand in my way."

"I can say the same to you," said Jean.

Both Jean and Kallen readied their Knightmares in a fighting stance. Both women, though they could not see each others faces, guessed the expression on the others faces. In their own silent way they acknowledged the great similarity between them. They were both women who wanted nothing more than to please the men they loved, even if they had to destroy the other to do it.

Without wasting another word the two women charged at each other. Jean going for the kill with her sword and Kallen lunging out with her Radiant Wave Surger. The tip of the blade collided with the glowing palm of the clawed arm weapon and in that moment Kallen overloaded her weapon as the sword pierced it. The resulting explosion sent both Knightmares hurtling backwards from each other.

Lelouch saw the glowing red light of the explosion and suddenly he felt a sense of fear run through him. Though normally a man in control of his emotions Lelouch could not ignore the worry he held for his queen.

He fixed the mask of Zero, removed once he entered the stolen enemy Knightmare, and pushed on to the center of the explosion, drawing one of the Knightmare's swords.

Shin noticed the explosion as well. It was where Jean had most likely met the crimson Knightmare in battle. He pushed on with the Vercingetorix with the axe's buzz saw like blades spinning in anticipation of the fight to come.

Kallen managed to awaken, thanking whatever gods were watching her that she survived. She felt as if she had broken something and was bleeding somewhere, but she was alive. She attempted to get the Guren to function but many of its systems were too damaged to operate properly. She at least was able to get the cockpit to open.

She stumbled out of the Knightmare, gripping her side in pain. She tried to continue on, hoping she could find other members of the Black Knights she could get a ride with. She only hope that Lelouch would not be disappointed that she wasn't able to capture Shin himself and win this battle for him.

But these worries were ended when Kallen was struck behind the head by the pommel of Jean Rowe's sword.

Jean herself was injured from her Knightmare's own crash, using all her strength to escape and catch up with Kallen when she saw her leave the wreckage of the Guren.

She doubted she'd be able to put up much of a fight against Kallen, even as injured as she was, and opted to merely sneak up from behind her and knock her unconscious.

Though once Kallen had collapsed to the ground, Jean herself could barely keep to her feet. She kept herself conscious though. Working as fast as her injuries would allow she took Kallen's headband from her brow and used it tie Kallen's hand behind her back. As she finished this Shin's Knightmare rode up to the burning and damaged part of the forest.

"Jean, is the pilot still alive?" asked Shin.

"Yes...Lord Shaing," said Jean, a tired smile on her face.

"Good," said Shin.

He motioned for the Vercingetorix to scoop up both women in one golden arm and rode off.

"Order of Michael, fall back to base camp," said Shin, over the radio. "We've been beaten back for now."

As Shin gave out the message, in his stolen Knightmare, watching from a hidden position in the forest, Lelouch gripped the controls hard in fury. But he held his emotions in check as he rode on following the golden Knightmare.

Putting on his mask he switched to the secure channel for the Black Knights ordering them to stand down. This was a mission Zero would undertake alone.