The Knightmare Before Christmas (Closed)

[MKR]

December 24th
Pendragon Royal Complex, Lemuel el Britannia's Estate
17:23 PM

A sight none would have expected a mere month ago now adorned the streets of Pendragon, a Gran Cher yellow in color and adorned with Britannian regalia was being saluted by army men of the empire. All to welcome back one of the many children of Alexandros zi Britannia, the newly appointed Viceroy of Area 12, Louise li Britannia.

From her place within the Gran Cher she could see the majestic pattern woven before her, arranged by her own Royal Guards and those of the family member she had vowed to visit first for his support. His guards, clad in the purest of white and decorated with pristine gold, had always been iconic for as long as she could remember. They stood out from the rest with their display, showing that the man they guarded was unique.

Hers, standing opposite to his in a criss cross pattern like a tied shoelace, were what most expected from royal guards; they were dressed in military attire a yellow not dissimilar from her Gran Cher with refined but somewhat dulled golden decor. Yet each and every man, regardless of which individual they swore allegiance to was standing in salute, a hand crossed over their chest with two legs together. Taking in the sight one last time Louise prepared to disembark.

As she once more stood upon the soil of the Britannian homeland she stepped forwards, a red carpet laid out before her with men and women on either side. She held her breath for a moment until she heard the movement she had trained for. Good first impressions were everything and it was a time honored tradition to have any machines entering service perform one simple movement.

And so the Gran Cher saluted like the soldiers lined up before it as the Princess advanced. On the other side of the carpet there was a calm clap, the one man not in salute who had been her sponsor for this, who had granted her the possibility to be envoy and viceroy.

“Aunt Louise,” the man said “allow me to welcome you back once more.”


“Thank you, your Highness.” He would never not use that would he, true he was her cousin but it didn’t feel that way since he was still just two years older than she was. Her eldest brother’s early debauchery somehow bearing fruit beyond what any could have imagined at the time.

“Think nothing of it.” He turned to face the same way as her, slightly extending his arm towards her, which she prompted to take in her own. The two began to walk across the red tapestry below towards the entrance of the small palace that was the home of the Crown Prince of Britannia.

“Ah that is a Fluid Suit, yes?” He commented as his gaze barely acknowledged her arm, the pilot suit hidden under her cloak now partially revealed. His sense of touch however had revealed the garment far before his eyes confirmed the conclusion to be factual.

“I hope you do not mind the attire, it felt only right to represent Area 12 correctly. I do intend to change before we go to father however.” His gaze moved towards her. The silence that came from his lips caused her to look up at him.

“Is something the matter?”

He smiled, his gaze returning ahead of him. "I was just thinking about how even that short time has caused you to change so much.”

“Well I have been meaning to thank you for the opportunity, they were as welcoming as you said even if that first meeting was taxing.”

“Ah I heard, two new species if I recall correctly?”

She nodded, making a noise of confirmation with it. As the grand double doors opened for them, one side held open by a knight in yellow and the other one in white it sank in for Louise how weird it was to be back, she was getting used to the strange innards of Orphan and while her knights were there with her she hadn’t been in such familiar yet unfamiliar company since.

Behind them the guard began to roll up the carpet, this task left to the ones in yellow while the Crown Prince’s guards moved along with the pair of royals. Even in the grand position of Royal Guard afforded to but the elite of the elite there was a pecking order and those of his Highness Lemuel el Britannia’s were only below the men of the Emperor himself. Thus even those serving the Princess were left the menial tasks in moments as these.

With the door behind them closed the men behind fanning out to their positions Louise beheld the room which they entered. The foyer was grand as ever, a mixture of sculptures and fine art decorating the halls. Yet compared to some of her brothers and sisters it paled, Louise’s cousin was still modest in that respect. "Would that events over here had been as pleasant." he spoke up.

"I heard about the massacre." her tone softened "It is revolting that someone would do such meaningless slaughter. Have you found who was responsible?"

Lemuel's gaze remained forward as he spoke "It was a twelve, a former Reclaimers, that was the main perpetrator."

She looked up at her cousin, shocked at the claim.

"A man called 'Wolfgang', Grandfather is awaiting your explanation of the matter, as am I." he ruthlessly continued as he led her to a hallway, Louise herself lost for words at the notion. Any rebuttal she imagined drying in her throat, like concrete as such she meekly followed as his arm remained locked with hers, now beginning to feel like a vice grip instead of a welcome return.

Area 12’s populace was much smaller than even some of the cities inside Britannia and of it she only needed to look over Orphan, the matters outside had been arranged such that Lemuel’s men took care of the lands claimed by the prior Reclaimers leaving Louise solely responsible for the group themselves. The name wolfgang brought vague memories but she could not place where or when she had heard it. All she knew is that it was likely she had been but an arms length of the man.

“The last thing we need now is disharmony, lest we suffer the sort of infighting the League deals with on a daily basis so you are fortunate there Aunt Louise.” He spoke up again “Especially considering the man was a former Red Shoulder, the blame could be placed on old grudges instead of new ones.” While his words were of support his tone was much less affirmative, more akin to a win in a casino than a well estimated prospect working. Such was his ‘praise’.

They stopped by a window, overlooking the city below as repairs were still well underway even as the clock ticked closer to Christmas, now he let go of her as her gaze was locked on the outside still in disbelief this visit was more than a nice family get together, it was also an assessment of her ability as Viceroy in the weeks since and she knew that without someone’s favor she was likely to lose her position at this rate.

Grandfather had never properly had time for her, but Lemuel’s words mattered nearly as much and she knew she could trust him. She had and it brought her there.

“They… Are all so deeply hurt, that one should lash out so…” Louise placed her hand on the window in the distance she could see the damage, in the faint morning light the horrors inflicted and now being repaired were showcased to the world and she couldn’t look away. If one of the two thousand men and women could do this then what of the rest? She hadn’t spoken to a single soul on Orphan who she couldn’t call hurt; it was like they collected there. Thoughts on the matter crossed her mind in mere moments as she looked out on the consequences of what she felt like were her actions.

Had Wolfgang known that she had been accepted? Would that have stopped him or was that what put him on this path? Dahlia had opened up to her, the Baron had confided in her and everyone aboard Orphan had been so accepting of them she could ill imagine an act like this spawning from those there. Until they arrived it seemed the only thing the Reclaimers had was Orphan. Words from the conversation with the Baron came to mind and a solution came to her with it.

“They need help, to prevent another day like this. I sat with them, conversed per their traditions and heard the grief and pain. But they shouldn’t be beholden to them.” She spoke calmly, cautiously picking every word for her cousin to listen to. If the Baron was to be believed and she did in this instance, Orphan gave them a chance. She simply had to prove to it they wouldn’t hurt it but still help those around her. The pests that showed up during her first day and during that expedition, it wanted safety like a lost child. Another thing she was inclined to believe the Baron on they needed only to provide it to win its favor in a definitive manner.

However for a moment she paused, or was that what the Baron spoke of during their conversation. That ominous message to make her own choices not Britannia’s or Orphan’s. Where would one stop and the other start, and where did that leave her? The question had caused her to lose sleep that day as the answer was unclear. Being confronted with the fear that one’s fondness for a group was incited not by one’s own nature but the influence of something else altogether caused dread. Still she had to press on, lacking an answer and fearing what it would be she knew that if she remained quiet the only conclusion was that the choice would be made for her.

“We… Should integrate the Reclaimers further, especially Orphan itself.” She concluded her contemplations.

“Truly?” Lemuel answered her, hearing her call them reclaimer caused a pause as if some deep contemplation that had taken her nearly a minute had happened in a fraction of a second “And why should we?”

“Because it’s afraid, Orphan that is. And if we take them away then it’ll only feel more alone and afraid, if Britannia arrives in large numbers then it’ll feel more pressure from outside as if it's being invaded.” Her eyes lingered on the destruction “Instead, if it can be soothed. Then such a crisis wouldn’t ever happen again.”

He looked at her, and as she slowly turned to look at him she wasn’t sure what to make of the expression on his face. She had never seen him wear one such as that, it was unreadable or rather illegible. A mix of many emotions? Or showing but a few, she knew however that it gave her a chill as she looked upon it.

“Truly now?” He simply, softly, responded. “The magic cure for terrorism done by Reclaimers is to bring them closer? How do you think Grandfather would respond to such a course of action?” His eyes burned into her mind, it was like he was staring at someone he barely knew and it unsettled her, the conversation being between some political adversary rather than his own kin.

Yet a sense of pride was within his tone, aimed outwards. That was the most curious part.

“And we are to expend considerable military resources towards the defence of specifically Orphan as well to placate it?” She felt where this was going, saw it coming.

“Britannia are not the Reclaimers. Protecting Orphan is not the sole purpose of the military but still, is protecting the areas not their primary purpose?”

“You might think so.” Lemuel simply commented “But if this is the course you deem correct as Viceroy then you shouldn’t make your case with myself. Still, I'll lend you my aid.” Louise gulped, her Father was the final arbiter on the Areas after all.

 

[MKR]

“I must say this look does suit you better Aunt Louise.” Lemuel remarked as cameras flashed all around them, eager journalists aiming to report on this yearly event. Louise now fully clothed in her regalia, as was her Cousin. With her father as... Active as he was, this event was massive and a rare occasion where the family got together “Or would you disagree?”

“I don’t know.” She said calmly, “It's weird going from skintight to… extravagant.” As they filed in Lemuel was immediately flocked with her elder siblings gradually isolating her from him as they flocked like pigeons to a piece of slightly stale bread left to the air. Each and every one of them seeking his favor in one way or another. Just like she had in this attempt to prove herself.

Even if the lesser and higher nobility were barred from entering this event she could see her Father at the end of the hall, utterly unapproachable as ever even if no flock of relatives floated around him. Or perhaps because of that. Everyone here knew only a few of them were worth his time.

“Are you done staring?” Lemuel asked, causing Louise to turn around “Ah- I thought you would-” She saw the flock of relatives still behind him, some in frustration and some in understanding as he took her forward once more. Closer to the most important man in the room.

“Not until we have had our chat with Grandfather at the very least.” Emperor Alexandros beheld the two. His gaze as oppressive to Louise as ever.

“Your Excellency.” They greeted him.

“Tell me.” He spoke up “Why do you think I authorised the destruction of that gigantic crustacean?” Louise was shocked as he directly addressed her, was he already fully aware of her solution to the problem? Or had he simply figured it out how she would respond to the reality before her.

“Because you considered it a threat?”

“Because it fundamentally cannot co-exist with humanity. One will warp the other to survive, as humanity has sought to do to mother nature. The fertile ground of Orphan proved the real possibility to completely interfere with nature. Yet when the report reached my ear that it too saw that same opportunity the very biological makeup of one of the men sent there changed in an unknown and unidentifiable way. I thought it a creature equal to humanity.”

“Yet the years since and these past weeks show its naught more than a petulant child throwing a temper tantrum that someone else is playing with its toys.” His gaze lingered on Lemuel, who only gave a knowing smirk in response “A child with its hands on a nuclear weapon however, remains capable of using said weapon and I will not arm it further. My assessment then was, and remains correct.”

The wind had been taken out of her sails, the initiative was lost before she even thought she had it and once more she was left by the wayside.

“What about soothing it?” She asked almost fearfully. His gaze moved instead to the man beside her. Her question was completely disregarded by the Emperor and instead this moment stopped being about her plea to make Orphan feel at home and started being about her cousin.

“Simply ensure that Orphan does not grow displeased enough with its position for drastic measures, and be ahead of further acts like these.” Lemuel stated, seemingly pleasing the Emperor.

“That will be all.” The emperor concluded. Indicating the two were now to remove themselves which they did, even if Louise looked back one last time.

“Grandfather, for all his excellence, is still a man with his own personal beliefs that guide the nation as much as the nation's ideals guide him.” Lemuel spoke calmly, without hesitation or disappointment in his voice. Louise looked to him, dejected by the situation. Her hands felt and were tied.

“To say nothing of the men in his service, it is human nature to locate and isolate the ‘other’ be it within or without one’s nation. Orphan has been a sour spot for him ever since the Reclaimers formed in the blink of an eye out of civilised folk.”

“Therein lies the issue, both Orphan and Britannia are considered ideals when they are… people. Clint demonstrated just how petty Orphan can be during his public showing and Grandfather will not be slighted twice. Both seek out the ‘other’ within and without and aim to make their breed extinct. In that sense Grandfather is more open minded than most, looking out for all humanity instead of merely Britannia or even the purebloods of the motherland. Had he been different then the former Reclaimers would be held accountable for that act.”

“So…”

“They only get to continue as they are because he knows Orphan would resort to drastic measures if he removed all of them. Otherwise I cannot say what consequences Grandfather would enact."

Louise swallowed the brick in her throat, preferring not to think about it too much especially with the current company. Sure she was among the youngest present barring her cousins but still, it hurt that she felt powerless to do anything but the bare minimum.

"I take it that the part that hurts you most is that you can't say he's wrong?" Her cousin concluded. She didn't answer but that was answer enough for him.

"That's understandable, after all there's also the rest of the world to consider. Showing more affection for one area than another without cause will tilt the fine balance we already are leaning on with the Numbers. Even if these are holed inside the largest tick the world has ever seen. One only distantly tolerated by most." the pair paused, a slight distance away from the rest as more and more family members poured in.

"Why does it have to be like this…" she whispered "Can't they see that if it's treated nicely then they'll be treated the same?"

"What guarantees that?" came the simple retort. "The precedent of the reclaimers? Who were mobilised like bees around a hive when they were requested to return to the mainland? The only ones inclined to have trust in Orphan are those who don't know better or those looking to use it for personal gain."

Louise was about to fire a retort but he was ahead of her once more. "That does include you, Viceroy." the last word hammered in the point she hadn't acknowledged for several days now, but that is why she had gone there originally even if that had changed after.

"You now know what Grandfather thinks on the matter, only proving him wrong will change his mind now and you'll have to do that without his permission."

"You say that as if Father ever listens to me in the first place. If mother were still here then-"

"Be very careful with your next words." the young heir warned her, "You haven't been removed from your position, at least not yet." Louise's lips closed, now she understood part of what the baron spoke of once more.

"I'm not you Lem.." that nickname hadn't seen use since his placement as heir apparent, he just like her father had seemed so unapproachable, so insurmountable since that it felt wrong using that childhood nickname. "I can't make miracles like you do, I talk to them and I can't help but feel their pain. I tried to be a politician but…"

"You don't have to be one, nor do you need to make miracles. But Grandfather won't buckle, and with his stance none of us can lend you too much aid." his tone was soft, caring.

"How does this not need a miracle?" it felt futile to even try, Lemuel had somehow managed to get the Reclaimers to join Britannia and she couldn't even convince one man to make a creature feel safe.

"I'll leave that question with you for now, something to consider during dinner. Afterwards we can prepare the solution."

 

[MKR]

The Christmas dinner felt like it was moving at a snail’s pace, Louise couldn’t help but be concerned about her situation. As luxurious trays of delicious food were delivered one by one to adorn the plates of the family and discussions began topic of all varieties were brought to the table, bouncing between participants. Some royals by birth others having married into the family for Louise however it had been a mostly silent evening, few conversations happened with her as she still was recovering from her father’s statement. Most of the noise on her part of the table was coming from around her.

She wondered what her mother would have said to her. Would she have been proud of her for attaining this position as viceroy, she’d likely have gotten along well with Dahlia the princess reckoned as her gaze lingered on the empty chair to her left, it rubbed it in so so much yet she didn’t want it any other way. All the members of the family got a chair, including those who had passed in the last decade. As such it was one of a few empty seats at the table.

As course after course came to the table, starting from the emperor’s plate to go down the lineage of ascension Louise slowly and calmly ate, though she left the lobster be as the image of the other crustacean like creature was still fresh on her mind. All the while the only thing she was left with was contemplation of what her nephew had thought up to appease Orphan within the bounds of the Emperor’s wishes and conversations held prior about none too pleasant topics. Time passed slowly, the seconds until the end of this family gathering ticking by much to her awareness until at long last, as the final course was taken away she was freed from familial obligation for the night. Tomorrow as the holiday began in earnest the day would once more be intense.

She rose from her seat, eying where Lemuel was seated. It appeared that he and his father were having a ‘pleasant’ discussion, though about what she couldn’t tell as she had never mastered lip reading after that attempt to learn when she was twelve. As her brother and his son went separate ways Lemuel stopped by Louise, his frustration evident in the way he carried himself. Silently he held out his arm, and she took it once more.

The silence was almost as excruciating as the constant sound earlier, whatever they spoke of the crown prince was none too pleased about it. As the two of them made their way back to his estate he finally spoke up.
“Am I mistaken in assuming you didn’t find an answer to my question, Aunt Louise?” He finally spoke, to which she could only respond in one way.
“You are not.”

His reaction showed no disappointment but merely that it is what he expected as the frustration gradually receded as he looked out the limousine window. They had taken a very different route from when they went towards the dinner.
“Over the past years Britannia has come in the ownership of various plates, though the attitude towards them has not been anything like what Area 12 has. They lacked both quantity and trustability for military use.”

Instead of the section of the city with all the royal estates the car took a turn towards another district. Louise couldn't say she'd ever been here before, and if she had been the burn damage made it unrecognisable. “Most people and soldiers prefer to trust their lives to metal rather than some organic alien symbiotic relationship. Hardly illogical with the invaders and more recently relevant, the Beta.”

“But of course those plates were not just left as they were, I’m sure the answer will be obvious in hindsight but tell me Aunt Louise, when Britannia finds something, someone. What does it do?” They rode into a parking garage, underneath the city and kept going down as Lemuel spoke. A door opened to let the limousine in, at which point it could go no further. Her nephew stepped outside to open Louise’s door.

“Incorporate it…” She answered after a moment’s contemplation. He guided her to a staircase, sealed and closed.

“Almost correct.” He answered as it suddenly unsealed, several armed men looked at them they were dressed like civilians but the arms they carried gave away their nature. A descent down several flights of stairs in silence as the royals were flanked by the 'soldiers', the air was cold here this far down.

This entire place reeked of secrets only for the emperor and his inner circle, so in that sense having one here wasn't too wierd. As they passed through a metal door their guards were left behind, instead the facility opened up into a hangar.

An unexpected yet by now expected sight, an array of colours that she was familiar with by now in an even more familiar shape. Gran Chers were lined up, with even more coming from somewhere else in the facility to join the formation.
“They specifically seek to make it Britannian.” Lemuel finally concluded.

Several men and women moved through the facility their outfits were not like any branch of the military she recognised but that was likely the point they seemed more ornamental and decorative. Several of them moved to the two new arrivals.

“These are the successful results of tests to see how well Gran Chers and Brains could acclimate to Britannian use. Only one of the two categories is considered to have successes.” Lemuel continued, pausing by the foot of one of the Gran Chers. Louise looked up at it, these were different from the ones she had seen and piloted prior but that seemed more because they seemed more… organised, less like a collection of individuals and more a military unit all made obvious by the fact each and every one had the emblem of the Britannian military decorated upon their chest to denote their allegiance.

“In total two dozen Britannian Gran Chers. They should meet every criteria as to not upset Orphan.” Louise blinked a few times as Lemuel presented the solution to her problems. It was a bit much to take in, in her head a thousand worlds manifested and played out some going better than others.

By all means this should work but there was a tinge of concern one she would vocalise before long. "But what if Orphan rejects them?"

“Did your first day not include a strange and highly unusual Gran Cher arriving and being heralded as one of Orphan’s trusted, I do not see how this is any different. Actually given that they are physically the same instead of like that one it should be easier to accept them for Orphan."

Looking a gift horse in the mouth was not the best of ideas, especially considering that it was gifted by the one person whose favor she'd have to retain to hold her position so she'd leave it at that. Still Lemuel's earlier statement came to mind, anyone involved with Orphan saw something to gain from doing so.

"So…"

The Crown Prince chuckled at his aunt awkwardly bringing up an earlier topic.
"You wonder what I stand to gain from defying grandfather like this?"

"Yeah."

Once more he was half a dozen steps ahead of her it seemed. "It's rather simple, given that I backed you, your successes reflect positively on my ability to select future viceroys. However the inverse is also true when it comes to failure."

He paused for a moment, leaving that in the air as he stepped closer to her. Footsteps echoing through the hall as the soldiers in strange garb watched.
"Mere success, however, will not catch grandfather's gaze. That idea of yours however… To do something he considers impossible." Lemuel passed behind her, moving an arm around her shoulder as he gestured to the rows of Gran Chers.

Louise looked up once more, her eyes on the crests lined up. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the keys to her paradise. "Will he.. He…" Lemuel pulled her closer as she wrestled with the emotions inside her.

"I saw Doctor Clint's little embarrassment at the UN however his praise of you was to me the most important thing of that entire day." she felt his gaze on her side as his hand patted her shoulder.

"That proves your goal is within your grasp, instead of the impossibility grandfather ascribes to it. You can do it, you can be the one to fully integrate an area. You merely need to direct the men and women, and they." his arm swung wide to the Gran Chers "They'll teach the others."

Louise cried into his shoulder as he gave a simple smile, the two engaging in an embrace.
"He'll praise you." Lemuel spoke softly in her ear as the grip she had on him tightened in response. "For doing what he believed impossible, for achieving that. You'll become one of the most treasured of his children."