Code Geass: Alpha & Omega
Stage Four
Cave of Wonder
“The moon of the twelfth planet in the Beta Centauri system that we took refuge on seemed like an ordinary Earth-class moon when we first landed on it. We had no idea at the time what it was we were setting foot on when the Kaminejima set down on that accursed rock where a cave of wonder waited for us.” —Excerpt from the personal diary of Cecile Croomy, dated March 15th, 2035 a.t.b.
February 29th 2035 a.t.b.
“How soon can we attack?” Enkidu asked from within the cockpit of his Sargon-V.
“Patience, my friend. Lady Ishtar will give us the order when it is time,” Gilgamesh informed him. “For now, we’re to sit here and observe them from a distance.”
The pair of Sargon-Vs sat at the bottom of a clear-blue lagoon looking up at the hovering form of the Kaminejima some twenty miles distant from them.
“I’m surprised Marduk ordered their deaths,” Enkidu remarked to help pass the boredom of waiting.
“All but the ones called C2 and Lelouch,” Gilgamesh told him. “We’re to capture them at all costs.”
“All costs, eh?” Enkidu didn’t like the sound of their orders.
“That’s what she said,” Gilgamesh snickered, “so we’d better succeed in our mission this time. Otherwise, Adad will demand my head and yours.”
“Understood,” Enkidu said with a titter. “I wouldn’t want that worm to get the satisfaction. Which reminds me, is there any chance of the enemy detecting us?”
“There’s always a chance,” Gilgamesh checked his control panels, “but the waters here are rich in iron, zinc, and copper, and the underwater volcanic plumes that surround this atoll produce considerable heat. As long as we keep our units on low power, we should just look like a series of hot springs dotting the bottom of the sea.”
“I hope you’re right.” Enkidu scanned the top of the plateau that the Earth ship was over. “Because if that devil Enoch finds us down here before we strike, then we’ll be finished.”
“Lady Ishtar was curious about him,” Gilgamesh said.
“Oh…in what way?” Enkidu was aware of the goddess’ past relationship with the amber-eyed man. “She’s not holding onto old feelings for him, I hope.”
Gilgamesh chuckled, “No, it’s not that. She was curious as to why he would let one of these mortals pilot his machine.”
“You mean the Samael?” Enkidu asked with a tinge of disdain.
“Yes,” Gilgamesh answered as he watched a patrol of Type-21Z KMFs fly out from the Kaminejima. “That Hakodeshim is a custom model with enormous firepower. Thus our mistress was perplexed as to why he would not pilot the machine himself.”
“Perhaps he gave it as a gift,” Enkidu suggested. “Maybe he has a new lover?”
“Or pupil.” Gilgamesh monitored the patrol via his instruments. “Which is what has Ishtar concerned. If Enoch does indeed have a new pupil, it could mean he intends on making this person his champion.”
“You mean recruit him into the Enforcers?” Enkidu didn’t like where Gilgamesh’s line of thinking led.
“It is possible,” Gilgamesh told him. “And if that is indeed his intention, then we will face an even greater difficulty in securing Nibiru.”
“Is her ladyship intent on finding this favorite of Enoch?” Enkidu asked.
“Yes,” Gilgamesh replied in a stern tone, “but we are to keep this between us. When the time comes, we’re to capture the Samael and the other Hakodeshim.”
“I take it you have a plan?” Enkidu inquired.
Gilgamesh grinned, “Indeed I do.”
* * *
“We’re nearly there, Captain,” Lloyd informed Cornelia as they walked along the outside of the Kaminejima. A cool breeze came off the ocean coastline at the base of the large, rocky plateau that their ship floated a few feet above.
Cornelia looked out at the gas giant and various moons that were just barely visible through the cobalt blue atmosphere of the moon. “This sure is a nice place. I wonder how many people it could support.”
“Hmmm? Well, it is nearly the size of Mars.” Lloyd cupped his chin. “I imagine it could support a few billion people. Thinking of setting up a summer home?”
“No…not exactly.” Cornelia looked back up into the deep-blue sky. “I don’t think they’re going to let us get out of here, and even with the debris field as cover, our chances of breaking through the Babylonian blockade are slim.”
“I see,” Professor Asplund said while his repair teams continued to work on the damaged fold engine nacelle, “so you’re thinking of staying here?”
“Not entirely,” Cornelia replied in a low tone. “I want to make sure that my crew lives through this, but we need to try and break through to Hadar and warn the Olympian forces there.”
“Oh, I see,” Lloyd stated flatly. “So I take it you intend on breaking the blockade alone?”
“Not entirely,” she told him with a smirk. “Enoch and my brother have volunteered to protect the ship during our escape.” Cornelia looked directly at Lloyd. “I need you to take charge in my absence, Lloyd.”
“ME?” Lloyd was mortified. “I’m flattered by your confidence in me, Cornelia, but I don’t have the ability to lead.”
Cornelia put her hand on his shoulder. “I know I’m asking a great deal of you, Lloyd, but I need your brilliance to help my crew to survive on this planet. It’s going to take someone of your intellect and engineering expertise to build a colony here, should the need arise.”
“Well, that sounds grim,” Lloyd replied. “I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a John Smith.”
“I’m sorry, Lloyd,” Cornelia looked out at the blue waters of the lagoon, “but I’m ordering you to take command. You’ve no choice in this matter. Once the Kaminejima is ready, you and nearly the entire crew will flee to the caves we detected to the north of here.”
Lloyd was aware that when Cornelia’s mind was made up, there was no arguing with her. “I’ll have to automate most of the systems on the ship for you to be able to pull off this little scheme of yours.”
“How soon can you have that done?” Cornelia asked as a feeling of dread welled up inside her. She thought she could see the glint of steel under the waters of the atoll.
“It’ll take about a day to fully automate the ship,” he said with a wave of his hand, “but I can’t make any promises as to how well it’ll work under combat conditions.”
“It’ll have to do,” she said with a frown.
* * *
“See anything, Major Croomy?” Kallen asked as she led the three-Type-21Z fighter escort that surrounded the Type-21E electronic warfare KMF. The large dish on the back of the EWAC (electronic warfare and countermeasures) model turned slowly as the four fighters flew around the perimeter of the large island that laid just to the north of the atoll over which the Kaminejima was moored.
“No, nothing on my scope,” Cecile responded as she kept her fighter in formation with the others.
Kallen looked out over the waters of the ocean and the numerous islands within it. “There’re too many places for the enemy to hide here.”
“I agree,” Rai piped up. “What do you think Cornelia is thinking with all the movement of supplies off the Kaminejima?”
“She’s going to try to run the blockade,” Kallen said flatly.
“Are we going with them?” Shirley asked.
“No,” Kallen grumbled. Colonel Kozuki had argued briefly with Lelouch when he told her that Rai, Shirley, and she would be staying behind to protect Lloyd and most of the crew.
“Lulu’s going, isn’t he?” Shirley picked up on Kallen’s irritation immediately.
“Yep,” Kallen replied in a cold tone. “He said that since we’re still mortal we had to stay behind.”
Rai knew she was being overly harsh. “He’s just concerned for our safety, Kallen. Besides, Captain Britannia and a selected group of crew have to be going, right?”
“Yeah, Cornelia handpicked forty-five crewmen to go with her. Lelouch didn’t even try to change her mind. I was standing in the room when he told her that we needed to stay behind. I don’t care if he’s concerned about us. He doesn’t have to be such an asshole about it,” Kallen complained.
Shirley sighed, “He’s not very good at expressing his feelings, Kallen. You know that.”
“That doesn’t give him the right to act like an elitist pig just because he, Enoch, and pizza girl are all immortal.” Kallen hated the fact Lelouch had a Code, and she wasn’t going to hide it.
“I know how you feel about him, Kallen, but—” Shirley started to say.
“No, you don’t know how I feel,” Kallen snapped at her as they flew over a small range of ancient mountains on the large island. “I’ve moved on, Shirley, and maybe you should do the same before you get hurt. Pizza girl once told me that the price of Geass is solitude, and maybe that’s her way of telling me to shove off, but it doesn’t change the fact that while they’ve stayed young, we’ve been getting older.”
“I hate to interrupt,” Cecile said apologetically, “but I thought you might like to know I’m picking up numerous large caverns beneath that grass-covered peak on the northwest side of this island.”
“Sorry, Major Croomy,” Kallen blurted out, “I guess I’m just a little stressed right now.”
“There’s no need to apologize, Colonel, I understand,” Cecile replied softly. “Should we fly down and check out the cavern? It appears large enough to act as shelter for the crew, and the rock it’s in is quite dense.”
“Yes, we should go down and see if it’s suitable to act as a temporary base of operations,” Kallen told her while she turned her fighter towards the large, grass-covered peak.
* * *
Enoch stood upon the top deck of the Kaminejima, looking out over the deep-blue waters of the lagoon as C.C. walked up from behind him.
“What’s got you so entranced?” C.C. asked him in a stale tone.
“Can you feel them?” Enoch asked her as his amber eyes focused on one point of the water.
“Yes,” she answered as she came to stand next to him. “But I’m not sure what they are.”
“It’s Gilgamesh and a legion of Sargons,” Enoch told her while his eyes scanned the deep-blue sea.
“How can you be sure?” she inquired, a bit surprised by his confidence.
He gave her a grin. “Did you forget I’m a cyborg? I’m picking up their radio transmissions. They’re scrambled so I can’t understand what they’re saying, but my cybernetic brain knows the encryption they’re using is Babylonian, and the wavelength of their voices clearly indicates Gilgamesh is with them.”
“Oh.” She looked out towards the spot that captured his attention. “Do you think they intend on attacking soon?”
“It’s hard to tell,” Enoch told her. “However, if I had to guess, I’d say they’ll attack as soon as we’ve finished repairs.”
C.C. put her hands on her hips. “Shouldn’t you inform Cornelia?”
“I don’t think that’d help her right now,” he said in a smug tone. “It’s better if you and Lelouch know where our enemy is so that your honeybuns can determine a proper strategy to deal with these interlopers before we go to the captain.”
“Honeybuns!” C.C. scowled. “Ooh, you could at least try to hide your jealously.”
Enoch laughed, “Jealously? Oh, my, am I jealous? I’m not so sure.”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Enoch,” C.C. sneered at him. “I know how you feel about me.”
Enoch guffawed, “What? You mean felt about you. Don’t mistake my feelings of friendship towards you as some kind of erotic desire.” He snickered, “You had your chance, love, and you blew it.”
She snapped at him, “Uh, you arrogant…egotistical…what makes you think I have any desire to have you ogling over me?”
“Ogling?” Enoch gave her a puzzled look. “If you mean me complimenting you on your beauty, then I’ll stop.” He smiled at her mischievously, “I could just call you pizza girl like Kallen.”
“No thanks.” C.C. folded her arms and humphed. “You can be a real jerk, you know that?”
“Is that why you fell in love with Lelouch?” Enoch teased.
C.C. flipped her head and put her hand on her hip. “No. I fell in love with him because he actually loved me for real.”
Enoch scratched his head in a befuddled manner. “How’d you figure that out? The guy didn’t seem interested in girls back at Ashford.”
“I asked him the question,” C.C. giggled.
“You mean the whole Do you know why snow is white? thing?” Enoch inquired in disbelief.
“Yeah,” C.C. eyed him. “He was the only person to ever answer it correctly.”
“Maybe he just got lucky,” Enoch taunted her.
“No, Enoch.” C.C. blushed as the memory of her time with Lelouch in the cave near Narita came back to her. “He answered that he knew snow was white because it was beautiful, and he didn’t hate it.”
“Okay, so maybe he was telling you he loved you without saying it directly.” Enoch put up his hands defensively. “Pardon me if I’m not a master of metaphor.”
C.C. shook her head and tittered, “No, you’re a punk with the romantic tact of a caveman.”
“Well, none of us are perfect,” he winked at her. “Besides, some women like being taken caveman style.”
C.C. chuckled as she put her arms around his waist, “You’re a good friend, Enoch, but you’re not the kind of man I need.”
He caressed her face gently. “Well, I’m glad I could still be of service.”
She smiled at him, “Thank you for helping with Lelouch. He’s become the kind of man I’ve always wished for.”
“Don’t thank me, love.” Enoch looked deep into her eyes. “The man that Lelouch is now was always under the skin of the scorned boy that you blessed with Geass all those years ago.”
“Blessed?” C.C. asked in surprise. “What makes you call it a blessing?”
“Because without it, Charles would have destroyed the Earth and all of mankind with it…” Enoch’s expression changed to a look of recognition.
“What is it?” C.C. inquired.
“That’s it, beautiful!” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re a genius!”
C.C. was dumbfounded. “What?”
“That’s why the Babylonians are trying to capture Nibiru.” Enoch let go of her softly. “We’ve got to let Lelouch know and formulate a plan of action.”
“What are we letting Lelouch know?” C.C. demanded.
“That Ishtar and Maruk are after the Sword of Akasha,” Enoch stated gravely.
“But why?” C.C. asked in confusion. “Lelouch damaged it beyond repair. Besides, what good would it be to the Babylonians?”
“What’s the surest way to destroy the Earth?” Enoch asked.
C.C.’s expression became stone. “Ragnarok.”
* * *
“This is real strange,” Alice told Count Amontillado as their KMFs flew over the surface of Nibiru.
“There’s no activity on the surface at all,” Sancia informed them.
“I concur, other than the massive vortex funneling into the mouth of the mobile planet, there is no activity present,” Lucretia stated as the Irregulars flew along the equator of the massive astral body in their Vincent-Advanced Knightmare Frames.
“There’s got to be something,” the count said over their radios. He flew his custom KMF, the Uther, at the head of the Irregulars.
“I’m still not comfortable with you being here, Count,” Alice informed him for the third time since they had left the Arcadia.
“Let’s not get into that tiff again, Major.” Amontillado maneuvered his mecha towards a series of darkened skyscrapers that lined the huge, metallic canyon. The crevice ran the circumference of Nibiru with tributaries covering the whole of the world in a vast complex of trenches. “We’ve more important matters to attend to right now, and my expertise in the Thought Elevators may prove useful here.”
“You think that all this activity is related to the ruins on Earth?” Alice inquired.
“I do,” the count replied as they zigzagged through the metal towers looking for any signs of movement. “Clearly the internal mechanisms of Nibiru have become active, yet the surface of the Dyson Sphere is completely devoid of activity. This can only mean that whatever energy was used to start the internal machinery may be coming from Earth via the Thought Elevators. During my time with the Code R project, I was privy to some of the more intricate data recovered from the Geass Ruins. The Thought Elevators may be more than just gateways to Nibiru, they might also act as ley line conductors.”
“Ley lines?” Dalque asked. She was unfamiliar with the term.
“They’re a concept of invisible lines of power first proposed by a man named Alfred Watkins,” the count informed them. “He believed that these unseen lines of energy covered the surface of the Earth, and his successors speculated that these energy lines extended out into space, onto other planets, and even stars. The properties of these lines are unknown, but many of Watkins’ adherents believed they were spiritual lines of power.”
“And the Code R group believed the Thought Elevators were linked to these lines?” Sancia inquired.
“That was part of the theory they were formulating,” Count Amontillado added. “The project ended abruptly with the death of Prince Clovis before they could test the theory.”
“What does it matter whether these lines of power are connected to the Thought Elevators or not?” Dalque scoffed.
The count continued in his monotone while their flight of KMFs changed course towards the southern pole of the mobile planet, “It matters because these lines of power may be the glue that holds this entire universe together. If someone could gain control of these lines of power, they could in effect control the laws of physics and in turn the power of creation itself.”
“I can see why it’s so imperative that we find the source of this vortex,” Alice said as they headed for a large, open area between the city clusters.
* * *
“I don’t like leaving Count Amontillado behind like this, Lady Nunnally,” Jason said softly to her on the bridge of the Glorious. The orange-red light from Jupiter reflected off the deep-blue hull of the Commonwealth of Earth’s third heavy cruiser of the newly commissioned Lord Nelson class.
“We’ve no choice, Jason,” Nunnally said to him with a weak smile. “We must depart for the Galactic Council now, or else we will not arrive in time.”
“Madame Ambassador, I must concur with Jason,” Kaguya’s image said over the main viewscreen above them. “I’m not comfortable with you leaving. Perhaps you should send someone else in your stead to represent…”
“My dear, Kaguya,” Nunnally interrupted her gently, “you of all people should know why I must be the one to go.”
“I understand that your latent psychic ability gives you an edge,” Kaguya admitted, “but that’s not my point. We still haven’t been able to contact your brother or locate the Kaminejima. If the Babylonians were able to take down Cornelia, then it’s possible you may suffer the same fate.”
“Madame President,” Jason lifted his chin, “the Kaminejima was but one vessel. The ambassador will be protected by a flotilla of warships, including my own Grecian battlegroup. Lady Nunnally will have adequate protection.”
“I suppose,” Kaguya conceded. “Nunnally, promise me you’ll come back safe.”
Nunnally smiled at her friend, “I promise, Kaguya, I will return to you.”
* * *
“Are you sure they’re out there, Enoch?” Cornelia asked him as she used a pair of long-range binoculars to scan over the area of ocean he indicated to her.
“They’re out there,” he replied as he, Lelouch, Guilford, and C.C. stood at the lip of the plateau over which the Kaminejima hovered.
“And they’re not going to strike until we’re ready to depart,” Lelouch added as he used a pair of binoculars to monitor the sea water. “That’s why they haven’t attacked yet.”
Cornelia didn’t argue. “Well, if you’re right, then we better accelerate our plans.”
“Actually,” Lelouch grinned, “we can buy ourselves some time by creating a diversion.”
“How so?” Cornelia queried him.
“By taking off in desperation,” Lelouch told her flatly.
“But that’s what the enemy wants,” Guilford blurted out. “If we take off in a charge, then they’ll attack before we’ve secured a base here.”
“Not necessarily,” Enoch reassured him.
“Indeed,” Lelouch agreed, “we need only have the crew and supplies moved to a safe location before we take off.”
“We already know that, Lelouch,” Cornelia said gruffly. “What I need to know is how we break through their defenses and escape without jeopardizing my crew.”
“Have no fear, my sister,” Lelouch stated with a wicked smile, “here’s my plan.”
* * *
“Wow, this mountain is rather geometric for a natural rock formation,” Rai stated as they disembarked from their KnightMare Frames.
“I’m not so sure it is natural,” Cecile Croomy told him as they came together in a clearing near the entrance to a large cave.
“What do you mean, Major?” Kallen asked her with a puzzled look.
“I mean this mountain has an almost pyramidal shape to it.” Cecile used a small, box-shaped device the size of a tablet-computer to scan the mountain.
“If it’s a pyramid, then it’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen.” Rai looked at the mountain in awe. “It must be at least ten kilometers wide.”
“Ten point three actually,” Cecile tittered while they made their way to the mouth of the cave.
“This cave entrance is big.” Kallen looked over the large, natural-looking archway while she adjusted the length of rope over her shoulder. “Our KMFs could fit through it easily.”
“I expected as much,” Major Croomy said.
“Expected?” Shirley asked. “Have you seen this kind of thing before, Major?”
Cecile grinned, “Well not exactly, but it does have similar properties to a few places on Earth I visited years ago.”
“We don’t have time to dillydally here,” Kallen told them. “Let’s get this survey over with.”
“Yeah.” Shirley took out a flashlight from her utility belt. “Let’s, since this place is already creepy from the outside. I hate to think what’s inside.”
“You mean like bats?” Rai teased Shirley.
“Ewww,” Shirley cringed. “Don’t say that, Rai.”
Kallen rolled her eyes. “We don’t know if this moon even has bats, Shirley.”
Shirley perked up. “Oh, yeah.”
Cecile laughed, “Okay, let’s start the survey.”
The four of them walked into the darkness of the cave with their flashlights illuminating the path before them. The team traveled at a slow pace into the cave for nearly an hour until Cecile stopped in her tracks.
“What is it?” Kallen asked.
“I’m not sure.” Major Croomy seemed puzzled. “There’s a cavern ahead of us, but my instruments indicate that it’s huge with numerous large structures within it. I can only surmise that they’re stalagmites or some other rock formation. However, their layout is very uniform.”
“Why is that unusual?” Shirley asked.
“Because they appear to be laid out in a grid pattern,” Cecile told her.
“We’re not going to find out what they are just standing here.” Rai moved forward.
“Wait, Rai!” Cecile warned him, but it was too late.
“Ahhhh!” Rai cried out as his flashlight went out.
“RAI!” Kallen yelled as she rushed forward only to have her front foot land on open air.
Cecile and Shirley grabbed Kallen as her feet hung out over a cliff.
Kallen looked down to see Rai’s flashlight on a flat, rectangular structure a few meters below her.
“Rai!” Kallen called down towards the light.
“I’m alive,” he yelled back.
“Is there anything you can secure a rope to down there?” Cecile asked him as she and Shirley hauled Kallen back up onto the ledge.
“No, not really,” he told them as he panned his flashlight around the top of the flat structure he stood upon. “Though this structure doesn’t look like a stalagmite to me. I think it’s some kind of rooftop.”
“Rooftop?” Shirley blurted aloud.
“Yeah, there’s a rectangular opening in the middle of this thing,” Rai informed them as he walked to the center of the square landing. “It’s got a staircase running downward. Should I check it out?”
“NO!” Kallen yelled at him as she hammered an anchor into the rock floor and tied her rope around it. “We’re getting you up out of there.”
“Don’t you want to check this out first?” Cecile asked.
“We don’t know what could be down in that building,” Kallen told her, “and I don’t want to go down there with just a pistol.”
“Maybe we should go back for our KnightMares,” Shirley added as she panned her flashlight into the darkness. A faint glow in the distance caught her attention.
“Now that we know they’ll fit all the way through here…we’re going back for them,” Colonel Kozuki stated as she held the rope for Rai. “Okay, Rai, you start climbing up here.”
It took only a few minutes for Rai to scale the rope back up to the edge of the cliff. As soon as they were ready, the group briskly made their way back out of the cave and acquired their KnightMares.
“I think this is overkill,” Cecile told them as their machines flew down the cave mouth. “What could possibly be in here that requires this kind of firepower?” she asked as their machines came to rest on the edge of the cliff in KnightMare mode.
“If this place is what I think it is,” Kallen remarked with a tinge of anxiety, “then we may need all the firepower we can muster.”
“What do you mean?” Rai asked her.
“I think she means this place is a city,” Cecile said as she used the sensors of her Type-21E to scan over the vast chamber.
“Not just any kind of city.” Kallen hit the floodlights of her machine. The light from her Type-21Z illuminated the structures beyond.
“Wow,” Shirley said, “this place is huge.”
“Yes, it is,” Kallen stated with a scowl, “and it’s nearly identical to the city of the Geass Cult in China that the Black Knights destroyed in 2018. The only thing missing is…”
Colonel Kozuki boosted her machine into the air and headed for the faint glow in the distance.
“Wait, Kallen!” Shirley started after her.
“Shouldn’t we take this slowly?” Cecile demanded as Rai took off after Kallen and Shirley.
“There’s no time, Major,” Rai answered her. “Kallen’s onto something.”
“This is crazy,” Cecile blurted aloud as she chased after them in her KMF.
The four KnightMares flew for a few minutes over the vast city complex below them until they came to the far wall beyond.
A curtain of vine covered the wall the four Type-21s stood before. An orange-red glow emanated from it. Kallen opened her cockpit hatch and disembarked.
“Colonel!” Rai yelled as he opened his own hatch.
“Stay where you are, Rai!” Kallen ordered him as she approached the vines. She walked up to the wall and pushed back the long, creeper-like strands.
Kallen stepped backwards. “Oh, my God.”
“Are you alright, Kallen?” Shirley asked, seeing Colonel Kozuki stagger backwards.
Cecile noticed a small, stone, pyramid “stalagmite” jutting up from the smooth, flat, stone floor. She magnified the pyramid on her KMF’s video monitors and saw hieroglyphs that covered its surface all over. “Oh, no!” Major Croomy blurted out as she had her KMF pull back the vines.
The orange-red glow filled the chamber with copper-colored light as the face of the stone wall became clear.
“Whoa!” Rai said in awe. “Who would have guessed this would be here?”
“What is it?” Shirley demanded impatiently.
Cecile answered her as recognition of the gate-like structure made her nauseous, “It’s a Thought Elevator.”
