Chapter 4
When the Fusion Reactor came online, another section of his workshop powered on as well. The automated assembly lines turned on and immediately began to work.
The first phase was completed. It lasted more than two years.
"What next?" Milly asked, as she watched robotics hands do something inside a square room, it was like a miniature factory in there!
"Legs for my dearest baby sister." Marcus said with crossed arms," I have gathered enough data from all the soldiers who enjoy their new prosthetics; it's time for Nunally to get one." He declared with confidence.
"I see. I never imagined you would create a company just to give legs to your sister." Milly was very impressed, her heartbeat skipped for a second, making her blush as she realised something…
"I am not as kind as you might suggest. I fused two things into one as a goal. That's all there is." He shrugged before watching the assembly line finish the lower half of the exoskeleton for his little sister.
"Even so, you never stopped working. Even when no one believed you could do it." She said, making him confused.
"Hah, is it? You assume I care what others think?" Marcus joked as he wondered what she was getting at.
He never cared or had any sort of feelings about other people thinking about his capabilities.
"...Well, I always thought your dreams were impossible, something like delusions…" She honestly explained.
All Marcus did was laugh.
"You do realise that no weak-willed person could achieve what I did? What is before you is something no one has completed for a considerable amount of time.
As long as three superpowers exist, this technology will never appear." He looked back, implying his fusion reactor.
"...really?" She looked surprised.
"Indeed, people first need to split an atom before they even consider fusing it.
What you see is at least 20 to 40 years in future."
Her mouth opened for a second before she shook her head.
"How do you know?"
"Because I study a lot." He smirked while saying that.
"...right…" Milly deadpanned, not asking for details anymore.
It turns out she has underestimated him even more than she thought.
'Could he cause some crazy revolution with all of his stuff?'
That moment, Milly realised something.
He is most likely planning some crazy shit in future!
"I want a part in it!"
The girl grabbed his hands and got closer to him.
"...What?" He looked confused. What is she talking about?
"You are planning to fight Britannia with even more advanced Knightmares! I want to be part of it!" She said with narrowed eyes.
"No." He shook his head before removing his hands from her hold.
His reply saddened her, but then he placed his hands on her shoulders, asking her instead.
"It's not a fight. Let me ask you this: does a bear fight a chicken?"
She was confused for a second.
"...No, it's not a fight. Bear hunts the chicken…"
"Precisely, this is not a fight, I won't be fighting them." He leaned forward, and Milly looked frightful when she saw Marcus' purple eyes borderline glow from something akin to madness.
"I will crush them. They will die from fear and despair in front of power they can't even comprehend. I am not building Knightmares. Instead, I am building Knightmare Killers."
"..."
"Do you understand? I don't need an army, or some sort of rebellion; those are for people who do not possess power and can only rely on a mass of people."
He released his hold on her as he looked away and gazed towards the Fusion Reactor.
"Give me time and resources, and I shall do something no one else did in the world." He said with a confident voice.
Not that Milly was hearing him.
She knew something would happen… but this? This was… way too much!
The blonde spent months gathering her thoughts, but even that was not enough!
'These royals are on a completely different plateau!'
"...Even so! I have a debt to pay to you." She seriously replied.
"...Huh? What debt?"
"You saved me from arranged marriage."
"...what?"
"Your Anaheim Robotics was enough to get my mother off my back." Milly sighed.
"Then good for you. You can do whatever you want now." Marcus smiled at her. It was great news.
"You think I will accept that?" The girl frowned. Like hell she will accept this without paying back! Besides, she doesn't want to go her own way!
"Especially after hearing AND seeing all of this!" She motioned around her.
He was able to do this in two years! What can he do in five!? Or ten!?
"If you want to be part of my little world, you do know that you will be mine?" He said seriously without beating around the bush.
"It's a completely different world; you have a chance to turn around and continue your casual school life." He said with a sigh.
"...No. I want to be part of this! I want to watch over you. Make sure you eat and sleep properly." She crossed her arms and declared her intentions.
"...hahahaha, fine! Milly Ashford, welcome to real Anaheim." Marcus laughed with happiness. He couldn't believe she would offer herself like that!
"What's so funny?" She pouted at him.
"It's a laugh of happiness, you silly girl." He got closer before pulling her into a hug.
"Ew! Get a shower, you stink!" She pushed him back a bit.
"Alright!" He shook his head before walking towards the corridor that led to the metal stairs to his main workshop.
The girl sighed before her gaze went to a box, which was the prosthetics for Nunally. It was already completed!
"This is getting scary."
~~~
After showering, Marcus went to collect his newest creation. Unlike heavy-duty exoskeletons, this one was much simpler and less bulky, meant for a girl of a smaller size.
"You know that you are not opening your eyes on purpose, right? Doctors said that it was a traumatic event. But honestly, my trust in doctors is how far I can throw them." Marcus said to the pair of girls in the room.
"I might have given you back your legs, but for a blind person, a wheelchair is safer." He commented randomly.
"Don't be a spoil sport, it's a grand day for Nunnally," Milly commented as she helped the girl to put on her exoskeleton.
"...Umm… I have to thank you for doing this for me, Lelouch." His little sister thanked him.
"Hn, don't mention it."
"Heh, he made sure countless people tested before making a perfect version for you," Milly said with a grin.
The smaller girl smiled, hearing that.
"Of course. For my sister, things have to be perfect." Marcus scoffed; it was his ego and the Prince's. One could say his pride doubled in this regard.
"Regardless, my dearest little sister, you need to gather your courage and try opening your eyes.
Otherwise, these legs will only hurt you when you fall." Marcus sighed.
"Don't worry, I have a solution." Milly clapped her hands before looking at Marcus.
"I am going to get Nunally a perfect maid! She will help your sister!" The blonde proudly declared.
The prince nodded immediately; he couldn't say no to maids!
"Sure, do that. It will help Nunally to move around." He agreed, he realised that he would have more time now as well!
"Good, then I will speak to Grandfather about this," Milly said while looking at Marcus.
"Very well."
With that said, he was about to return to his workshop. He did what he needed to do. Now that the reactor and its initial preparations are done, he can start focusing on developing his machines.
"Where do you think you are going? We need to celebrate this!" Milly noticed that the Prince was about to make a run for it. So she voiced it out.
"Lelouch, you are not running away, are you?" Nunally voice her complaints.
"...Fine. What do you two want from me now?"
As he said, the blonde helped Nunnaly stand up for the first time in years.
"Amazing! It's like normal legs! I can feel them move!" The girl exclaimed with a smile.
"Of course they are. The sensors in the exoskeleton read electromagnetic pulses coming from your upper spine.
And the Artificial Intelligence in the exoskeleton legs read it and then moves it the way you want." He casually explained that there was no need to be that shocked, it's considered primitive tech by all means.
"Even so! This is amazing!"
"Let's make this the first trip to the dining room! Let me help you, Nunally!" Milly took her by the hand and began to lead her out of the room.
"O-Okay."
As they moved, Marcus let them walk past him as they entered the room.
The inventor watched his baby sister walk. He frowned; he wanted her to open her eyes. If she can do that, then he will be able to relax finally. With her being blind like this, she is a far bigger weakness and a greater target on his back.
'If only she gathered her courage and opened her eyes.'
A tired sigh escaped from his lips as he followed them.
The clubhouse is a big place, almost like a manor on its own. They have entire sections of the building for themselves.
Still, Marcus is thinking of buying land and building a place for himself.
'Hmm…'
His eyes ended up on a huge map on the wall in the hallway.
His gaze scanned the continents, islands and the oceans. Eventually, they ended up on islands in the South Pacific, close to the equator.
'Solomon Islands, isn't it where Orb is situated in Gundam Seed?'
He walked over to the map and checked it closely.
That moment he realised that the Britannian Presence in the Pacific is… well, abysmal compared to their land units.
Britannian army is mostly built around Knightmares; they don't have carrier ships or many huge planes.
Apart from that flagship plane, they are nothing like his previous life, where aerial superiority was a thing, at least for now, as he knows that in future there will be airships.
This means having a base, headquarters in the Pacific islands would be abusing their blind spot.
He should build it before Britannians develop proper air forces.
"Are you coming?" Milly asked as she turned around and saw him looking at the map.
"Yeah." Marcus shook his head, pushing this idea aside for now.
The Inventor Prince followed after them, going to the dining room. After that, Milly ordered her maids to bring over some food.
As they were waiting for their food, Milly was entertaining Nunally while Marcus was thinking about the course of action.
'I should start with the frame first… no, first shrink the reactor, then make the frame, followed by internal components.'
'Then I need to develop thrusters, maybe make the frame transformable… hnn…'
"Lelouch!"
"Hmm? What is it?" Marcus sighed as he looked at the pair who were gazing at him.
Even Nunally, who can't see him, as if knowing where he was, gazed at him.
"What do you think?"
"Think of what?" He rolled his eyes.
"Weren't you listening?" Milly rolled her eyes at him as well.
"Nope, I leave the details to you." He shrugged at her.
*Sigh*
The blonde sighed in resignation.
"I was saying that Nunally should join the school soon." She repeated what she said a while ago.
"If this is what she wants." He shrugged. "This academy has everything one needs to learn, so you can study to your heart's content." He explained.
"Indeed! My grandfather made sure Ashford Academy had everything one would want from a learning institution!" Milly excitedly said to the pair.
"Okay, then I want to study here!" Nunally said with a smile.
Marcus smiled, though it was only there for a moment as he recalled that the girl didn't even consider trying to open her eyes.
Sure, it was a Geass command, but still… over the year that memory should have been buried by now, new memories and emotions should have stimulated something.
*Sigh*
'Whatever, then I just need to make my overpowered machines to keep her safe, keep cuddling her up.'