Next stop: Utopia Academy

[utopiamods]

You're falling, and you can't remember why. It's a sickening feeling that makes your insides lurch; the darkness and the vertigo combine, and all you can think of is a story you heard once, somewhere.

-I remember now. It's a simple story that everyone knows. A legend of a Princess, the Demon Lord who kidnapped her, and the Knight who fought to save her.

The Demon Lord had kidnapped the Princess countless times, but every time the Knight bested his challenges and rescued the Princess.

No matter what tricks and ploys the Demon Lord used, the Knight would always triumph in the end. This was because--

The world tilts on its axis one last time, and the dream slips from your mind as easily as it arrived. A new voice intrudes on your sleep.

"Next stop: Academy Main Entrance. This tramline terminates here; all change. Next stop: Academy Main Entrance. All change."

Sunlight streams through the windows of the long carriage, making the seats almost uncomfortably warm beneath its sleeping passengers. The air is muggy and thick, the atmosphere relaxing. Almost too relaxing; the warmth and the silence make it difficult to immediately muster any kind of reaction or thought. Your nausea settles, slowly. The last of the dream fades.

"We have arrived at Utopia. Repeat, we have arrived at Utopia Academy. Could all passengers please leave the tram, as it is terminating here."

Comments

[trollofthree]

"Dunno," He kept his voice light and friendly, even as his hand on Lelouch's shoulder tightened and he searched the tramcar for anyone he recognised. If he'd been compromised, maybe someone else would know what they were meant to do. He couldn't remember any orders... "Maybe it's terrorists."

[veepofchess]

"Doubtful," was Lelouch's only response to the possibility that it was terrorists. The Black Knights would be in very poor shape indeed if they had put this together. He expected that there would be something a bit more obvious. Something like this would require Geass, and to his knowlege, there was no one left alive that possessed one this strong.

He pulled away from Gino's grip, and stretched his legs by pacing a bit, considering the options at a lightning-pace.

[trollofthree]

Gino loosened his fingers enough that the other boy could stand, and flopped back against the seat to watch him pace. It wasn't like Lelouch was going anywhere, and this gave him a chance to stare at the guy's clothing. Imperial clothing.

"Is that your uniform or something?" The question was only slightly rhetorical; if there was an explanation for his being dressed like that, Gino wanted it. He reached out to pick up a matching hat from the floor, and spotted Lelouch's untouched uniform bag. "Guess not."

[veepofchess]

He didn't even dignify that question with a response. He merely glanced over at Gino, and returned his gaze to the car ahead. The others seemed just as confused. After a long pause, he finally asked him a proper question: "Where is Suzaku?"

[trollofthree]

"Huh? Probably at the Tokyo Se-" He cut himself off. No, that didn't seem right. And why did he want to know where Suzaku was, anyway? He inspected the hat he'd found, turning it over as a distraction from nothing making sense. "Well, who knows? I'm his friend, not his governess."

[veepofchess]

Lelouch stepped over, and snatched his hat from Gino's fingers rather gruffly. "I would have thought with your height you would have been able to see him over everyone else." There was a note of derision in the statement as he put his hat on.

[trollofthree]

"Nope! No other Knights on this tram, my Lord," Gino returned, unexpectedly sarcastic. It was the truth as far as he could tell, he couldn't make out any flight suits or uniforms he recognised on the various sleepers. He leaned forward, and tugged at one of the trailing sashes on Lelouch's outfit, serious. "Why are you wearing this?"

[veepofchess]

"You'll find out soon enough," he replied, stepping out of tugging range. He wasn't about to tell anything of any value to the Knight of Three, even if his relevance was declining. He couldn't rule out that he had learned the truth of his identity and Geass from Schneizel. Certainly all of the Knights of Rounds had been made aware of it.

[trollofthree]

"Ah, how scary." He rocked back, and used the momentum to get to his feet. Now upright - mostly, the curve of the carriage roof meant he had to stoop over - he looked down at Lelouch. He wasn't above abusing his unusual height if it would get him answers. He wasn't holding out hope, though. "Is there something I'm missing, Mr. Vice-president?"

[veepofchess]

Lelouch was far from intimidated by this guy. "No, because there was nothing left for you to catch." A bit mean, yes, but he was still annoyed.