Code Geass: Juanjo of the Colonization

Turn 2: Fellow

With my head bowed low and my hands and feet loosely shackled on one of the seats in the lowest parts of the hull of the Sevillana, a galleon ship that gained its infamy for using up countless slaves in its arsenal, which earned it its nickname Esclavo Matarse. Yes, it does live up to its nickname, for hundreds upon hundreds of slaves have died inside its deck, be it because of disease, of loneliness, or even because of plain fatigue, hunger, or thirst. And it doesn’t help that I am one of the people shackled belowdecks among scores of other slaves.

“You’re pretty quiet for someone pretty new, chaval,” grunted a large man sitting beside me who was also shackled on his seat.

“I…” was the only thing I was able to utter, but frankly speaking, I don’t know what to tell this man in the first place. I wasn’t even able to turn my head towards him because of it.

“You… what?” the large man goaded me to speak.

This person’s definitely persistent as he is large. I just hope he’ll be happy with what I could come up with.

“Lo siento, señor, but don’t really have anything to say to you,” I timidly replied.

I honestly thought that I was going to get beaten right then and there, I actually braced myself.

The large man merely chuckled, “Well why don’t you start by introducing yourself? I, at least, would want to know my companion’s name before he dies of who-knows-what.”

I know I was supposed to be shocked by what this man just said, but being aboard the Esclavo Matarse, it’s pretty much a given that you may not live to see land once you set foot on this damned ship as a lowly slave.

“I’m…” I began, but then, my mouth seemed to move by itself, as if being controlled by a supernatural force. I had no choice but to introduce myself as, “…Juan Jose de Cincel.”

I couldn’t believe that I just said it unconsciously, so I tried it again.

“My name is… Juan Jose de Cincel.”

It was the same result.

“Calm down, chaval,” the man said. “You only have to introduce yourself once. Though I must admit, your name’s a mouthful. Can I just call you Juanjo or something?”

Feeling as though I was bothered by something I couldn’t banish, I just nodded without actually uttering a single word.

“Tch! I must say you’re different from all the other young ones I’ve met, Juanjo,” the man spoke after a short silence. “Not really a good kind of different, mind you.”

“Por favor, señor, don’t beat me up,” I pleaded quietly with my head still bowed down. I just couldn’t hold my head up for some reason.

“I spoke too soon,” the man spoke once again. “Apparently, you’re not a bad kind of different, after all.”

“I… I hardly know what you are talking about, señor,” I replied to him, my voice slightly shaking.

The man gave a soft chuckle. “Juanjo, there is no need to call me ‘señor.’ ‘Alonzo’ will do.”

I turned to the man named Alonzo and gave him a short nod.

None of us spoke more on the entirety of the time we waited for the Sevillana to set sail. Once it did, however, Alonzo told me, “Try to stay alive until we arrive, will you?”

I couldn’t answer him anymore. I even doubted if I could survive for even an hour in this cursed ship.

Atlantic Ocean, 1570

I would daresay that it is a miracle that I have survived for several days already despite the fact that all of us have been rowing nonstop since out departure from Spain, though I must confess that I am feeling a lot weaker and worn out because I barely had anything to eat and all I had for drinks was stale water I sipped from a rug. It’s no wonder why this ship earned its infamous nickname.

It was rather fortunate that one night, it became very windy and even more fortunate is that it blew towards our supposed destination, wherever that colony Gonzalez was talking about, which enabled all of us to rest, at the very least.

I looked at all the other slaves and I could swear that two or three of them have finally died. I could only pray that I won’t be the next one to succumb, but even then, I doubt that I would be able to survive all the way. Turning to Alonzo beside me, it looked like he still had some energy left despite all that rowing, though he did look really tired, too.

“Discúlpeme,” I called to Alonzo. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but… erm…”

I tripped on my words in the middle of my sentence. I wanted to ask him how long he has been working aboard this ship, but I didn’t know how to word my sentence in a way he won’t get offended in any way.

“Ah, so the little kid finally comes out of his shell,” Alonzo laughed. “It’s not everytime anyone asks me a question, so whatever it is, just ask, por supuesto.”

I stared at him for a few more seconds, still incredulous at how much energy he had put in his speech before finally mustering my courage to ask, “I only wanted to know… how long have you been aboard the Sevillana.”

For several seconds, he only looked at me without the slightest change in his expression. I bowed my head once again and said, “L-lo siento. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

To my surprise, he chuckled once again and said, “Dos años, chaval, longer than anyone else in this ship. A personal record, if you ask me.”

“I hope you don’t mind, se – I mean, Alonzo, but I’d like to ask why is that so,” I inquired further. Alonzo being able to survive in this ship for two years already had peaked my interest.

Alonzo chuckled once more and answered, “I’ve never lasted for more than two months in places I’ve been thrown before this ship, I have to tell you. Always on the move, always on the go. Perhaps, this is my destiny; to be the first slave in the Esclavo Matarse to live to tell the tale.”

Astounded with what I heard, I gasped, “W-what keeps you going, then?”

This time, he didn’t chuckle. He merely leaned towards me and whispered, “Hope.”

“Hope?” I couldn’t help but repeat.

“Si, Juanjo. Hope,” he also repeated. “Hope is a curious little thing, you see. No matter the adversity, no matter the tribulations, as long as you have it, it’ll keep you going. Just look at me, I’m supposed to be experiencing midlife crisis right now and I’m still up and running.”

I didn’t say anything else after that, and yet I was smiling. It gave me a feeling of reassurance that there is indeed a chance that there is someone who will live on after their time of servitude in the Sevillana.

“How about you, Juanjo? How did you end up here?” Alonzo suddenly asked. “It’s not my place to judge, but judging from the way you act so modest and courteous, I’d say you used to be a farmboy or something of that sort.”

I could only shake my head at what Alonzo asked me. I’m not really sure what his reaction would be if he found out that I came from a family of merchants and that I used to be rich.

“Que peña,” Alonzo sighed. “And the boy goes right back in his shell. Not meaning to scare you, but you might be spending your last days on this ship, so you may as well say it.”

I bowed my head even lower at that moment before saying, “I… well… I came from a family of rich merchants and… I guess that’s all I can say for now.”

“Hmm, a rich merchant, eh?” Alonzo crooned, stroking his beard. “Ah, nevertheless, I still have high hopes for you, chaval. You’ll still be able to survive until we reach our destination.”

Once again, I only nodded at what he said, not really knowing what I would or could say next.

Pacific Ocean, 1570

It had been a good several days since the strong winds of the Atlantic had kept on blowing the ship towards our destination. However, I should have known that times like this don’t last for long. Once we have arrived in the Pacific, the strong winds have stopped blowing and everything, including the waves became still. I could only steel myself when Gonzales ordered all of us to start rowing once again.

From what I could see, the arms that I use to row the ship looked like all the flesh had gone and only skin and bones remained. It was only a miracle that I was still able to move, if at all.

Every now and then, I was able to look at Alonzo. Since the day the Sevillana set sail from Spain, I still can’t fathom how strong or determined Alonzo is. I could only wish that I had his strength, let alone his willpower.

More days have passed and I could feel that my own body has already started to fail me. First, my fingers went numb, then my hands, and finally, I couldn’t feel my arms anymore. What’s more, everything seemed to spin inside the deck of the ship. For all I know, I think this is it for me when I finally let go of the oar Alonzo and I had been rowing and collapsed to the floor.

I could hear several shouts from the guard that kept watch on all the slaves and I could also vividly hear Alonzo snap back, “The little kid’s just tired! Let him rest! I can do his and my share of the work on my own!”

Just then, I faintly heard another voice as though it was telling me to sit back up, which I then recognized as Gonzales’. At my current state, there should have been no way for me to even move any part of my body, since all my strength had finally left me. But for some reason, my whole body began moving by itself as I saw myself sitting back up on my position beside Alonzo.

I’ve felt this sensation before, I thought. That was back in the dungeon when Monteverde ordered me to do things and I had no choice but to obey. Could it be…

It was only when Gonzales spoke once more when I realized that I was still under Monteverde’s spell, whatever it was. “Juanjo, start rowing like you have never rowed before.”

Seeing my body move by itself, I felt as though I was a marionette being made to move by someone controlling the strings. I then stared at disbelief when I had started rowing once again, if I may say so myself, even harder than Alonzo just did.

This went on for several more hours, until all the feeling in my limbs had come back to me. I felt as though every sinew in my body is screaming in protest. I wasn’t only feeling tired; pain also took over my entire body, but I had no means of stopping myself from moving. It was only a matter of time before I myself was also screaming in agony.

“Dios mio! Something is wrong with you!” I heard Alonzo snap at me. I then heard clinking of chains that told me that he stood up from where we were sitting.

What followed next was something I had a hard time comprehending due to the fact that my entire body was screaming in pain and I could barely hear what Alonzo and the guard were speaking of. Suddenly, I found myself being dragged away from my seat and next thing I knew, we were already standing (in my case, sprawled) on the ship’s bow. Gasping for breath, I tried to regain my bearings, but when I did, I almost regretted it at once.

Alonzo was stripped of his shirt and was now being tied spread-up between two poles. If that wasn’t frightening enough, someone just threw a whip in front of me as if they’re saying that it is I who should do it.

Unable to raise my head, I spoke in between gasps, “N-no… I can’t… I won’t…”

I then heard Gonzales’ voice from behind me. “Juanjo, don’t make me order you to do it,” he spoke roughly.

Still unable to speak properly, I could only shake my head in protest to what he wants me to do.

“Hrgh! You’re leaving me with no other choice,” Gonzales snarled. “Juanjo, it’s time for his punishment. Do it.”

I willed myself not to follow Gonzales’ order, but my body had a mind of its own as I slowly stood up and grabbed the whip in front of me. I wanted to trip myself in order to prevent myself from going near Alonzo, but there is no stopping me from whipping him as I raised the whip and struck him with it. The first lash landed squarely on his back, which made him scream just like I did belowdecks.

This went on for several more minutes. I wanted to drop the whip and cover my ears to prevent myself from hearing Alonzo beg for mercy, but all I could do is watch myself land lash after lash on Alonzo’s poor back.

“E-enough!” I shouted. It came to me as a surprise that I could still speak even while under Monteverde’s spell. “Enough! Please, Alonzo had enough!”

To my even greater surprise, it was Alonzo who spoke in between my lashes. “Ngh! Someone had – ARGH! …someone put you under – AGH! …you’re under a Geass right now – GAH! …someone put a Geass on you – KAH! …I just know it! GARGH!”

“Juanjo,” Gonzales interrupted. “If you think your friend can’t handle the pain anymore, why don’t you… end his misery?”

My pupils contracted at what Gonzales said. “N-no! You can’t be thinking… no, please, don’t!”

I could feel all the color drain from my face when I heard Gonzales’ next order, “Juanjo, aim at the back of his neck.”

“No… NO! TAKE THAT BACK! TAKE THAT –”

Far too late, my last lash had landed squarely at the back of his neck, snapping it at that instant. For a little while, I could see Alonzo’s body squirm like mad, but a few moments later, he became still.

After everything, I was finally able to drop the whip, but I also dropped on all fours, gasping for breath. Next thing I knew, tears were already rolling from my eyes.

“W-what have I done?” I gasped, still staring at Alonzo’s now lifeless body. “What have you made me do!? Y-you’ve turned me into a monster! I’ve… I’ve just taken someone’s life!”

Gonzales then gave a chuckle that sounded out of place, something you would never expect to hear when there’s a dead body around. “You are not a monster, Juanjo. You are merely a tool I used to end someone’s misery. Don’t worry about it, mi amigo. It’s only your first time, after all.”

He then turned to the other guards and said, “Bring him back belowdecks. I’ve realized I’ve wasted precious time just by having a little fun.”

As the guards started to drag me back belowdecks, the last thing Gonzales told me echoed several times in my head.

“You are not a monster, Juanjo. You are merely a tool I used to end someone’s misery. Don’t worry about it, mi amigo. It’s only your first time, after all.”

The only thing that then ran in my mind is for me to kill myself as soon as I get the chance. I will never be someone’s tool to kill more people.

“Oh, and Juanjo,” Gonzales then called to me before I was out of earshot, “don’t die.”