In Justice

[srwuga_mods]

[There is a certain degree of pomp as Jeremiah Gottwald, acting Viceroy of Area 11, strolls through the halls of the White Chalice to the designated trial chambers.  Flanked on either side by a slew of armed guards, both for his own protection as well as to play Executioner to his Judge and Jury, he cannot help but smile as he sees the terrorist Zero and his accomplice, cuffed and sitting behind a small table.]

You should have known when you killed Prince Clovis that you would not escape justice, Zero.  And now, surrounded by your enemies you will meet your ultimate fate after answering for your crimes.

Speaking of which, thank you, Captain Weston.  I can understand you would prefer to have a dangerous criminal off your ship as soon as possible, but the Black Knights are only leaderless, not powerless, and I would very much prefer to minimize the odds of a rescue attempt.

Prefer him off my ship?  Why would I want that?  This is the best pickings for golfing partner's I have ever had!



Y-yes.  Of course, captain.  The whole of the Britannian Empire is indebted to you and your crew for your services.

Now then: does the prisoner feel the need to say anything before we begin with the proceedings?

(OOC: The time for the unmasking and sentencing of Zero has come!  Anyone on route A is welcome to spectate so long as they don't interfere with the proceedings.  More importantly: this is your option to get Lelouche geassing your character(s) out of the way.  If you'd prefer to make your characters immune to any future Geassing by Lelouche, please post and say they are present for this event.)

Comments

Kamille is here for this!

[zetahatsudo.livejournal.com]

Kamille stood there, looking at Zero with curiosity in his eyes. This was it: either Zero died today, or he would perform yet another miracle.

[exiledpower.livejournal.com]

[ Zero remains perfectly calm, showing no sign of unease despite the unfavorable odds he's been presented with. Upon being prompted for speech, he simply waves his hand dismissively. ]

I'll let the facts speak for themselves. [ For now, anyway. The grand show would come later, when the moment was right. ]

[srwuga_mods]

[He was cornered. He had to be. Zero's expressive speeches and strategies wouldn't do him any good when all it would take would be a bullet from any of his guard to end it. As such, Jeremiah looked rather proud of himself as he strolled around the terrorist almost leisurely.]

Very well then. We'll discuss the facts as they were a short while ago, during the incident in the Shinjuku district.

The official records state that you organized the theft of Britannian Knightmare Frames to aid the terrorist insurrection in the ghettos. After your forces were crushed by the La-

[No. Don't give him the information. It's not important.]

-By the superior tactics and equipment at Prince Clovis's disposal, you somehow slipped through the security perimeter and took the Prince hostage. We have the audio files to confirm Prince Clovis, no doubt under your gunpoint, ordered his soldiers release the terrorists which had since been captured.

[A pause. It was time to lower his standing with the crew of the White Chalice even further. Though it'd be smart not to mention where they got it from.]

And terrorists in fact had intended to use nerve gas on the civilian population of Shinjuku, no less. And they would have been properly punished for endangering the lives of civilians, if not for you.

And then, once he had lived out his use to you, you murdered Prince Clovis in cold blood before going on to reorganize those terrorists into your own personal army, the Black Knights! These are the facts, Zero, and they most certainly speak for themselves; of the murderer and terrorist you really are!

[exiledpower.livejournal.com]

[ Zero takes the entire argument in stride, completely still. After Jeremiah makes his dramatic exclamation, he simply chuckles, mocking and confident to the very end. ]

Is that so? [ Whimsical, as though this is all a game... and to Zero, it is. ] Unfortunately, you've neglected to mention the source of said nerve gas. Which in reality, came from Britannia! You intended to use it against the Japanese in an attempt to further your bloody crusade against a demoralized people!

[ And now, he rises, turning his attention to the audience, speaking with growing fervor. ] Ladies and gentlemen, this entire trial is but a thinly veiled facade! Britannia's true purpose here is to scapegoat their unforgivable crimes, and in so condemning one individual, sweep everything under the rug! They seek to lie to you, deceive you from the truth! But I have brought it here with me today, and it cannot be suppressed!

Now, "Orange"... [ Eyes the Britannian noble, grinning behind his mask as he singles him out. ] What say you now? In defense of your rotten empire, have you any last words? Or shall the sword of justice descend and expose your wretched deceit?

[srwuga_mods]

[Jeremiah flinches with that outburst, grimacing in anger as he matches Zero's gestures with a sweep of his own arm. And what the hell is with that "orange" thing? A number of his guards seem to be stirring in confusion, expecting an explanation from Jeremiah.]

I-it's nothing; just a trick! Britannia is not on trial here, Zero. You are! And all you have to defend yourself are unsubstantiated lies and vilifying Prince Clovis's administration.

What proof do you have the gas was Britannian? What proof that it was intended to be used in the ghettos? You are on thin ground, Zero. Physical proof, not words are what you need. Physical proof that doesn't exist!

[exiledpower.livejournal.com]

[ Zero's aware that the guards are watching him like a hawk for any sudden moves, and so it's with slow, careful steps he moves to the front of the room. Center stage, to maximize his time in the spotlight. ]

Many others have claimed the same, of course. That I'm simply a terrorist, a criminal with no ground to stand on... but they'd be wrong.

[ Gesticulating while cuffed proves a challenge, but somehow, Zero manages to punctuate his words perfectly. ] Behind this mask is more than a man. Behind it is an idea! An idea that will continue to grow and blossom within the hearts of all those who know the sting of oppression, of cruelty! And you can never erase it, never take it away. Because even in the midst of hopelessness, faith prevails!

But I digress. Proof is what you want, what the people want. And I, being a servant of the people, shall deliver it to them! Behold!

[ The blank screen behind Lelouch suddenly fizzles and lights up with some fuzzy footage. In it, several masked scientists, presumably Britannian, are gathered around a large canister, the same one discovered in the Shinjuku incident. It is most certainly leaking a foul gas, and the muffled conversation proves as much. ]

Behold the atrocities of the empire you so loyally serve! [ And more appears, a seemingly endless collection of footage. Shootings of Japanese civilians by Britannian soldiers; destruction of buildings and homes; bodies upon bloody bodies stacked like towers, burned in massive bonfires by Britannian officers. Each one bears the insignia of Britannia. Their identities are undeniable... and Jeremiah himself appears in several of the shots.

Zero, on the other hand, just stands back, and lets the facts speak for themselves. ]

[srwuga_mods]

[Jeremiah watches Zero with nothing but ambivalence as he speaks... but then that screen comes on and his eyes open wide. How did... how did Zero get that footage of the canister? He glances back at his men, gritting his teeth furiously.]

Kill the footage, wherever it's broadcasting from. Now!

[But it's too late... and when he glances back suddenly he's assaulted by the images. How had... how had Zero done this? So many of them... so many were absolutely confidential! His grimace grows into an absolute furious sneer as he grits his teeth almost loud enough to be heard over the footage.]

This... this changes nothing, Zero!

[He takes charge. He pulls a gun from a hidden holster and points it at the terrorist. He's already failed to bring the murderer of one member of the Imperial family to justice, he won't fail again! Before anyone can respond, he fires at the accursed terrorist to end things once and for all!]

[exiledpower.livejournal.com]

[ The shot rings out and meets its target! Unfortunately, a certain Britannian noble failed to take into account that Zero's precious mask may have been reinforced. Instead of brain matter splattering the floor, the helmet cracks and splits in two, revealing a young man with a glowing eye and a wicked grin. ]

I suppose I owe my generous hosts a word of thanks for playing right into my hands... and you as well, Orange, for proving exactly the crude simpleton I expected from Britannian nobility.

But this is where it ends, here and now! Everyone gathered today, Lelouch vi Britannia commands you!

[ The winged sigil in Lelouch's eye activates as Lelouch cries out with passion: ] Wipe my face from your memories, my identity from your thoughts! Suspend this farce of a trial and pardon Zero for his heroic actions! Feel the crushing betrayal of Britannia's treachery and keep Zero forever alive in your hearts!

Long live the rebellion! Long live Zero!

[ Checkmate. ]

[srwuga_mods]

[... Lelouche? Underneath that mask... was Lelouche? After all these years the missing prince, scorned by his father made himself known makes himself known as the greatest enemy Britannia's faced in recent time?

[Jeremiah's eyes burn with a red, unnatural hue before the gun clatters to the ground.]

Of course, your highness. You are free to go.

[And with almost mechanical posturing, Jeremiah and his guards turn around and begin to file out... and soon enough they've left the ship. They'll have no memory of the events following Jeremiah shooting Zero, so it looks like Lelouche's gambit played off! Of course, Lelouche couldn't have pulled this off on his own... right. After another moment, a hologram flickers into being right in front of Lelouche, a wide grin on his face.]

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/111270593/29261129

So that's the power of Geass, huh? I gotta admit... it's kinda cool.

[He glances around at all the still-Geass'd crewmen and then looks back at Lelouche, with a slightly more serious look on his face though.]

They're going to be okay, right? You said you can only use your power on a person once.

[exiledpower.livejournal.com]

[ Lelouch just chuckles, slipping the dummy cuffs off. ] Of course. I just made sure they wouldn't compromise my mission.

As agreed, Dan, the Geass won't be used to inflict any harm on your beloved crew. [ Now, anything else, Lelouch neglected to mention. Sorry, Dan, but he's gotta have insurance. ] I thank you for your support thus far and in the future. White Chalice and the Black Knights... they'll make an interesting partnership, I'm certain.

[srwuga_mods]

[Well, both of them have leverage on the other. Dan's not stupid enough to leave the crew at the mercy of Lelouche, and it's only fair that Lelouche himself have leverage too.]

No more than our partnership with Celestial Being, probably! Your backup mask's all ready now too, and I've arranged a cover story so you won't have to stay Zero all the time too, so I think everything's set now.

[space-mcgyver.livejournal.com]

[Lowe observes the whole thing, rather unamused. Sure, Zero seemed like a bad guy, being a terrorist and all - but these Britannians don't make a much better impression. Who's in the right here? For now, it's hard to say.

Best to wait and see what happens. 8 wasn't there, but Lowe was ready to call his computer at any moment. Just in case.]

[of-10-faces.livejournal.com]

Tsukasa's reading a book. He's only there cause Dita wanted to see the trial. She's over on the other side.

[curseu-reflexes.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, no way in hell Julia was going to miss this. Lelouche talked about how the man behind the mask doesn't matter? Well she was totally wanting to see if that really was the case.]

[g-saviour.livejournal.com]

[[Mark is here, not necessarily out of interest of Zero, but to see what he'd expect when he stands trail elsewhere, later on.]]

[burningprez.livejournal.com]

[The president watched and waited. His arms folded and his posture tense. Waiting to see what kind of miracle Zero would pull off.]

[im-not-asking.livejournal.com]

Forte had guessed that whatever Zero's scheme was, it'd be at the trial.

So of course she was there.

[hammersteintime.livejournal.com]

[Totally came for a hanging. But oh wells]

[faux-kiken.livejournal.com]

[Well she was curious to see what kind of trial it'd be like]

[faux-gar.livejournal.com]

[Like Rosie was curious, especially after talking to the man in prison.]