Disclaimer: I do not Own Code Geass in any shape or form. But I do own the originally ideas and characters present in this story.

December 17, 2014 ATB

Davao City, Philippines.

2:36 AM

The young mercenary, codenamed Zero, transition from sleep to consciousness in the span of five seconds. Violet eyes snapped to attention and lifted up to focus on to the face peering back. Even in the darkness of the ruined building that had served as their shelter for the past few hours Zero could still clearly make out the shape of his companion's face. Wide of body and with a strong jaw, a shaggy mane of brown hair that reached shoulder length, and a neatly trimmed mustache and beard the man named Algeron Armistead was by no means an ugly individual. But good looks mattered little on the battlefield. Especially in this day and age.

The man's sky blue eyes locked on to his young partner's royal purple before he nodded once. He removed his hands from the younger's shoulder and stood to his full height, not an overly tall man at only around five feet and ten inches tall but what he lacked in height he made up for in bulk. Algeron had once told Zero that he had always been wide of body and that eventually he just choose to turn the fat in to muscle. Something that had served him greatly in their line of work.

"Got a sit rep from the boss." The former EU officer stated as he watched Zero lean forward from his spot resting against a wall. "Everything has been set up for us to move forward. But the window of opportunity is pretty small."

With a groan of exhaustion Zero responded. "ETA until operation start?" His voice betraying his age.

"Twenty-three minutes and fifty seconds." The man responded after a quick glance at the watch strapped to his left wrist. "Which means we'll need to leave with in the next few minutes if we want to make it in time."

Zero nodded as he smoothly rose in to a standing position. Rolling his neck in either direction the mercenary stepped closer to his teammate, standing eye to eye with the older man. Algeron looked over the younger male with a frown. Despite being just fourteen it was clear to see that Zero would finish as one of the taller people around. Already he could barely claim he had an inch advantage in height despite being over twice his age.

"We'll have to move even more quickly then planned if we want to take the opposition out before they can enter their Knightmare Frames." Zero stated as he stretched his long legs out in order to force blood in to his limbs.

Algeron, codenamed Cypher, snorted. "You just want a chance to pilot one of the newer models."

Zero looked his ally in the eyes before he shrugged. "The Gloucester is supposedly greatly superior to the Sutherland in nearly every possible aspect despite the fact it's just a remodeled on the same basic frame." He continued on past the older man. "I want to figure out what makes it so special."

Cypher eyed the younger mercenary for a second before he shook his head. "You seemingly have an obsession with Knightmare Frames."

Zero stopped to glance back over his shoulder. "I suppose so. But it's only natural when you consider everything."

The frown returned to the man's face. "Considering what?"

"Considering how the battlefield is changing before our very eyes."

There was a bead of silence that stretched between the two before Cypher unconsciously barked a laugh.

"You sounded too much like Ace there kid. Been hanging out with him to much."

"Of course. Where did you think I learned how to talk so dramatic?"

March 15, 2017 ATB

Tokyo Settlement, Area 11

The sound of small rapidly hurrying feet caught his attention long before she had even opened the door. He exhaled in equal parts exhaustion and annoyance. This was beginning to be an damn near every day thing. Apparently the girl could not seem to take the hint that he was not interested in the least. What's more she was apparently becoming more bold. This was the damn men's locker room. Just because he was in here didn't mean she could come in when ever she wanted.

Three. Two. One...

"LULU!"

A sigh accompanied by his right hand rubbing at his aching and tired eyes. Already he could feel a headache coming on.

"Ms. Fennette." He turned and greeted the girl as calmly as he could while struggling to keep his annoyance in check. The result was a growl through clenched teeth as opposed to actual human speech. "I believe I've asked you several times now not to call me by that ridiculous nickname."

The orange haired girl with delicate features and a lean build halted in front of him almost at once. She opened her mouth to say something further before closing it again in embarrassment. "A-Ah! Sorry, but Madame President call-"

"Madame President." He interrupted patiently. "Has known me for close to a decade now. We on the other hand have only started speaking in the past year. And furthermore I have also told her on several occasions that I do not find it to be a suitable alternative when greeting me."

The girl gaped at him in surprise. He was usually the kind to just ignore things but today was just not a good day for him. He had woken up with more aches and pains than someone his age had any business having in the first place, had to deal with the usual school BS, and still had the student council meeting to attend to later. And between that he had to leave within the next twenty minutes if he wanted to meet the appointment the dean had put together.

All in all he wasn't in the mood to deal with the usual Shirley antics.

I really wish the girl would just ask so that I could turn her down already...

"I'm sorry Lu-Lelouch!" She hurried to correct. "I just kinda get used to hearing Milly use it and follow along. I didn't mean to-"

"There you two are!"

Lelouch Marshall hung his head in defeat as his arch nemesis stomped in to the room.

He could already tell that rest of this day was going to be hell.

"Madame President!" Shirley nearly shrieked in surprise as she spun around. In the door way stood a long legged and well formed young woman with flowing blond locks, high cheeks, and dark blue eyes. Her mouth was stretched in to a teasing and bright smile that showed off two rows of beautiful and sparkling teeth.

"Shirley is sneaking in to the men's locker room?! That isn't possible!" She exclaimed with mock horror. "What could cause such a nice young girl to do something so scandalous?!"

Her eyes slid past the other girl in front of her and over to the young male who was finishing the process of buttoning up his shirt. If at all possible her smile would have grown two sizes that moment. Her weight shifted on to her right leg and she placed her hands on to her hips.

"Could it be? That she was here for her precious Lulu?!" The teasing in her tone evident as the girl in question went from a calm tan to tomato red in half a second.

Lelouch simply looked up to face her with pure boredom in his eyes. "And what if she was Millicent?"

The young woman's attitude changed instantaneously. Her smile faded away and a chilly look entered her eyes. Her hands fell from her hips to her side and her back went rigid as she stared down her childhood friend with all the disappointment she could possibly muster up.

"Don't call me that." A dangerous gleam reflecting from her gaze that promised absolute pain for anyone who disagreed. Lelouch calmly ignored the unspoken threat and simply smiled sweetly at her in return.

"Then don't call me Lulu."

"Your version is an affectionate. Mine is just ugly." Her tone had gone dead.

"Mine is just as bad. And you actually have that written on your birth certificate." He countered.

"If you continue to call me that." She continued as if she hadn't heard his last argument. "I will be forced to take up extreme measures to ensure your future compliance."

"Why don't you go and plan how to do that Millicent." An equal dangerous look in his eyes. "And while your at it you can take your good friend here with you and explain to her why it's a horrible idea to barge in to the men's locker room where young men go about the process of dressing."

Shirley, briefly forgotten, blushed an entirely new shade at the idea.

"I on the other hand." He added while tightening the belt to his pants. "Will be leaving for a prior engagement."

The orange haired girl instantly turned around to face him, her blush a thing of the past, and narrowed her gaze in to his direction.

"Your going out gambling again aren't you?" Her tone accusing. He stopped in the process of putting on his favorite leather jacket and seemed to ponder her words. It was all for show.

"Why yes. Yes I am." Spoken as if talking about the weather. "I will be taking this time between classes, that is typically reserved for lunch, for a trip to the outskirts of the settlement to conduct an illegal money making exercise. Also known as gambling."

"You shouldn't!" The girl exclaimed as her hands balled up at her sides. "You could get caught. Then you would be in real trouble."

A sigh escaped him. "As I continue to say the nobles wouldn't dare tell because they would be reporting themselves as well. And their pride would take too far of a hit. This is an easy way to make money for me."

The blond stepped further in to the room and frowned. "Did grandfather set this one up for you?"

Lelouch glanced over to her. "Yes. I'm doing this one at his behest." He answered honestly.

A growl of frustration left the girl before she shook her head in disappointment. "The two of you are like children."

"But were paid like men." He countered calmly as he picked up his gym bag. It had all sorts of illegal goodies inside of it in a perfectly explainable and easy to carry case. "Now if you'll excuse me, time waits for no man."

And with that he exited past the two girls before they could say anything else to dissuade him.

"Checkmate."

The declaration was made with pure confidence and met with overwhelming silence. The younger of the two players reclined in to his overly comfortable chair and calmly folded his hands in to his lap. Violet eyes watched as the man seated across the table stood up and gaped in disbelief at the chess board. The previously arrogant and overbearing presence had now been replaced with pure confusion. The usually calm and composed seventeen year old let a vicious smirk slide in to place. The after math of the game was one of the best things about playing nobility. It was always refreshing to see the usually prideful bastards brought down from their pedestal.

However, this one had been particularly satisfying. After all, it wasn't every day that one acquired a controlling interest in an international industrial power over a simple board game.

"A fine match." The young man stated with no sign of the previously shown emotion. "Your down fall came in the use of your knights. You were far too aggressive with them. Instead you should have had at least one pull back for insurance reasons."

The man from across the table snapped his gaze up to look the younger player in the eyes before he nodded solemnly. The Earl of Okinawa, a title granted to the man just three years prior for outstanding service in the Britannian Navy as an admiral, sat back in to his chair with a huff. A slight chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head in disbelief.

"It seems you've beaten me fair a square." The man finally responded. His earlier arrogance now cast aside in the face of defeat. "A remarkable game I must say."

The teenager nodded amicably. "Thank you kindly sir. You yourself were quite a bit more than I was expecting when Mr. Ashford called."

The man snorted. "Yes, well he certainly didn't give me a fair description of your skills either." He had continued to survey the board. "I suppose it's my own fault for falling in to that man's trap. He may appear to be an old fool but he certainly played me like a fiddle."

The younger male remained silent to this.

"But I suppose that doesn't have anything to do with you." The man smiled wryly. "You just played the game in his stead."

"Yes sir." Came the response. "I just fill in for Mr. Ashford when ever he tells me too."

"A carefully executed and well thought out plan." The man remarked. "Do you even know what the stakes of this game were young man?"

"No sir." He lied easily. "I'd wagered on the way in that it was for a sum of currency."

"If only it were something so simple. No the price for this game was far more important. And it appears that my greed has gotten the best of me in this instance." He shook his head. "And to think a few short years ago I would have been sickened by the idea behind this game alone."

Again the younger player returned to silence. The man looked up and eyed his opponent for a moment. "Tell Mr. Ashford that I will complete the terms of our deal as soon as possible." He announced. "And also let him know this will be the last time I fall for his tricks."

The teenager stood up smoothly to his full height of nearly three full meters and squared his strong shoulders. "I'll be sure to let him know sir. And if you don't mind I'll take my leave."

The phone was picked up on the second ring.

"It's done." The teenager said before the person on the other end had the chance to even properly answer. There was continued silence before a gruff voice on the other end chucked with genuine amusement.

"I don't know why I keep getting surprised at this point. I should consider it to be a forgone conclusion with how well this little scheme of ours keeps working."

Lelouch choose to say nothing as he crossed the door way and back in to the afternoon sunlight and continued to walk away from the towering building that had served as the Earl's main office building.

"I trust he wasn't too troubling?" The man on the line inquired.

"Hardly." Came the easy reply. "I extended the game several minutes longer than I really needed to have. Partly because I expected something more but mostly because I didn't want for it to look to bad." A frown slid in to place. "I have to wonder how desperate for true competent military leaders Britannia is if it was forced to use a man like that as an admiral."

Ruben Ashford chuckled again. "Once again your hitting on a major problem with the Britannian system of things. The sole reason they've managed to conquer so many small nations so quickly is due to man power, an abundance of supplies, and of course the technological advantage of the Knightmare Frames. These three factors are the most obvious to consider when discussing the near two decades of dominance that have come about up to this point.

In retrospect the military doesn't have a need for overly competent leaders. Instead they promote just about anyone who can order troops around. That combined with a title of nobility will convince the actual soldiers that they're being led by skilled commanders. Ironically the nobility system that they've all become so proud of is actually making the military they boast about weaker."

"Something that will come back to bite them in the ass sooner or later." Lelouch commented as he approached his parked motorcycle.

"Hopefully sooner." The man in his early seventies added. "But at any rate I have to ask: What are you going to do now."

Lelouch shook his head with genuine amusement as he swung a leg over his bike. "Are you requesting me back?"

"Millicent has been pressuring me lately." The man answered honestly. "Calling me a bad influence on you."

"That's ridiculous."

"That's what I said!" The Ashford family head exclaimed. "I mean if anything your the bad influence on me."

To that the teenager had no reply. After all, it was true.

"So I told her I would order you back here after you were done."

"Then you can also tell her how I ignored that." Lelouch countered as he pulled the helmet hanging on one handle through the visor. "I'll be visiting the doctor by way of the old subway tunnels. See if any progress has been made."

"Oh? I suppose that is a good enough reason. But I can't exactly tell her that."

"You could just ignored her." The teenager suggested.

"Impossible." Ruben stated firmly. "You know how she can get when things don't go her way."

"I ignore Milly when things don't go her way." Lelouch countered as he slid his keys in to the ignition.

"Really? That actually works?" The man actually sounding somewhat amazed.

"Not if she has tons of blackmail on you." He responded as he started his bike.

The Ashford head sighed. "So I'm effectively screwed?"

"Yes." Came the reply before the line went dead.

The motorcycle came to a halt at the edge of the road. He reached up and slid the visor to his helmet away as he looked down on to the large semi truck that had barreled through the railing and down in to a construction site. Smoke billowed in to the air from the hood and no movement of any kind could be seen. Lelouch frowned as he narrowed his eyes to see better.

Was the accident my fault?

A large part of him vehemently denied that conclusion considering the driver had been speeding like a maniac. But another part that rarely showed it's self countered by saying that he had been going at a rather casual rate to be moving on such a normally busy highway. The truck had swerved to avoid hitting his bike and had crashed through the guard railing.

If that person is hurt, it'll be partly on my head.

He was not adverse to causing others pain, as evident by his former trade, but he usually tried to avoid it whenever necessary. And even if this wasn't a particularly similar situation to what he was used to the idea that someone could have been killed because he had become lax was a rather sobering one.

Any further debate was shelved when he glanced to his right and left to only find crowds of on lookers taking photographs or talking on their phones. Frustration and anger, two old friends, rose up quickly and rushed completely past his calm façade.

And as usual the cattle chooses to simply stand a watch as opposed to taking any kind of action.

There was no other hesitation in his being. Without thinking another minute about it the high school student cautiously guided his motorcycle down the path of destruction and to the stationary truck. He brought his back to a complete stop still a fair distance away and cut the engine before knocking down the kick stand and dismounting. He removed his helmet and took a deep breath as he brushed the fringe of his raven colored hair away from his sweaty forehead. He slid the helmet in to it's usual place and slid the keys in to his pocket before glancing back up to the stationary vehicle embedded in to a large section of dry wall.

I have to assess the damage to the truck first. He thought as he carefully stepped from around his bike. That smoke looks bad and I don't want the truck to blow up on me as I check on the survivors-

All further thought was cut off for a moment as something near the top of the truck caught his attention. A flash of green light briefly illuminated his vision before fading away nearly as quickly as it came. He blinked to clear his eyes before shaking his head.

What the hell? Am I seeing things?

He took another deep breath and steadied himself as he glanced all about the truck and the surrounding area for any sign of a source. Finding nothing he frowned deeper before slowly making his way closer. Aware of the people still milling about on the highway a fair distance away he crept around the side of the truck and looked towards the area nearest driver side door.

No movement.

The actual door is beyond the wall. He thought with exasperation. I can't get to them from this way.

Another glance brought his attention to a ladder attached to the side of the trailer. Seeing no other option he carefully approached the ladder before grabbing hold and climbing up on the top of the trailer. He glanced around until his eyes landed on a small opening barely two meters wide. He walked along the roof before dropping to one knee and peering in to the darkness of the trailer, his eyes squinting in an effort to see.

And then the engine roared to life.

The teenager's head snapped up at the sound and his hands reached out to grip the side of the opening. A full three second later and the truck jolted as it was put in to reverse. Thrown off guard by the sudden movement holding on was all that he could manage as the damaged semi truck defied all mechanical knowledge and smoothly slid free of the hole in the wall. And than the truck suddenly snapped in to full drive before speeding off back in to the direction of the highway.

Thrown off balance again Lelouch was tossed forward and through the opening in the roof, holding on to the edges for dear life. He gritted his teeth as his muscles clenched and the surprised screams from the onlookers reached his ears. Soon the truck had forced it's way back on to the high way and was speeding just as quickly as it was before.

Damn, I can't pull myself up on to the roof at this speed!

Seeing no other alternative the former mercenary let go and dropped down in the unknown.

The reports streamed in quickly. Various sources relying information as soon as it was made readily available. From his place in the command center of the G1 Mobile Base Prince Clovis La Britannia looked over the proceedings with a critical eye. On the surface he appeared to be calm and at ease despite the chaotic situation spread out before him. In reality however his mind was a chaotic and nervous mess. Things were certainly not going to his liking.

"Where was the last reported sighting?" The Britannian prince politely requested with a razor thin smile. One of the officers on the bridge turned to face him with a small stack of freshly printed papers clutched in his hands.

"Sir!" The man saluted. "It was around fifteen minutes prior. The vessel was loaded in the to the back of a truck and driven out of the facility. Inside were two terrorist, one male and one female, while the rest of the infiltration team covered their escape."

"Hm... How disappointing." The royal said through his teeth. He clenched his fist in frustration. "Do we have any idea of where they've taken it?"

"Yes. Reports from local law enforcement services mentioned a truck matching the description moving at high speeds down the high way. And about five minutes earlier we intercepted communications about a possible trash."

"Oh?" The blond haired man sat up straighter. "Do we have a crew in route to the crash site?"

The man giving the report suddenly looked away. "Well yes... But unfortunately we believe the vehicle may be on the move again."

The prince's eyes darkened a complete shade. "That is also disappointing to hear."

The man coughed nervously. Clovis eyed him for a moment before he shifted his attention away.

"Bartley!" He barked.

A round and bald man with a monocle turned to face him. "Your highness." He added a bow.

"Deploy the Royal Guard at once." The man ordered. "Once we have a good fix on a location we'll send in units of elevens to secure safe passage for a recovery team."

"A splendid idea my lord." The man responded with another bow. "I'll get right on it at once."

"See to it that you do." The prince added as he slumped back in to his casual position.

I have to end this as quickly as possible.

He landed on one knee with an audible thud. Lelouch instantly went still and strained his ears for any sign of movement. About a full minute later he allowed himself to stand at full height. His eyes scanned the darkness, relying on the light available from the roof opening, for any sign of another person.

Instead his gaze was directed towards two things. A distinctly large and bulb shaped contraction and the towering and unmistakable form of a knightmare frame. He squinted to make out which of the war machines was standing before him. When he finally found enough details he was visibly surprised by what he had found.

"An old Glasgow?" He muttered as he looked for any more details he could see in the dark. And indeed it was. One of the first frames ever constructed, used to devastating effect here in the Japanese isles. Now it was nothing more than an outdated piece of machinery.

What is something like that old thing doing here. He pondered silently. And more importantly what the hell is that thing?

His gaze had moved by that point to the orange container that also shared the trailer. It didn't look like any kind of weapon that he had ever seen before. Perhaps an experimental device? A new type of transforming knightmare?

My contacts would have mentioned something if that was the case. I wonder if this is a proto-

"Stop the truck at once!"

On instinct the teenager dropped back down to one knee and darted his gaze around looking for the person who had spoken. It took a second longer than it should have for him to realize that the voice that had spoken had come from outside. And if he had to guess than the tell tale whump-whump of rotors would lead him directly to the source.

"I repeat! Stop the truck at once!" The voice from the helicopter announced again as the sound got closer. "Refusal to comply will result in the worst possible scenario. You have thirty seconds and counting!"

Immediately after that the small door that connected the truck cabin to the trailer hissed before sliding open. Lelouch bodily dived behind the orange container and out of sight. His right hand quickly unzipped half of his jacket before diving between the folds, grabbing at the small pistol holstered under his left arm pit.

"Get ready to open the hatch Ngata!" A feminine voice called out in the darkness. Lelouch froze and waited with his hand wrapped around the pistol grip. "I'm going out in the Glasgow to try and get them off your tail!"

From his position out of sight Lelouch watched as a fit young woman quickly pulled off the uniform she had been wearing to reveal a make shift red pilot suit. She quickly rushed over the kneeling old knightmare and climbed directly on to the side of the machine.

I know her from somewhere... The former mercenary reasoned as pieces of the puzzle began to snap in place deep within his mind.

"Kallen!" A voice called from the front, presumably the driver. Lelouch logged the name in to his memory. "Why don't we just use it here?! Use it on the Britannians?"

"Because that would be a massacre damn it!" The female snapped back at her unforeseen partner. "And it would be a horrible and hypocritical thing for us to do."

"I know that!" The male began to rationalize. "But we-"

"We're not terrorist damn it!" She all but snarled as she climbed in to the cockpit block. "And if we did that we'd be no better than them."

Lelouch watched as the young woman was sealed away from the world before the gray box slid in to the machine. Half a minute later and the mechanical warrior began to boot up it's systems as it stood from it's crouch.

"And besides!" The young woman continued through the loudspeakers. "They would respond by taking it out on the rest of the Japanese living around the world. Using the poison gas here would be the worst thing we could do!"

Lelouch blinked at the declaration. Poison gas?

"Now open the doors and keep going. I'll catch up to you when I can." She ordered from deep within the machine as it stepped forward towards the back of the trailer.

With no other argument to be made the man in the front seemingly gave up on trying to convince her to see things his way. The next moment the large loading doors in the truck opened to let in a rush of fresh air and sunlight. From his position Lelouch could see the highway racing away behind them as cars quickly pulled off to the side. Hovering in the air in pursuit were two VTOL gunships loaded to bear.

But before either of the air units could begin to fire a shot a lone slash harken raced past his position and out in to the sky where he slammed in to the lead VTOL. He watched in surprise as the cord attached to the frame suddenly went taunt as the metal anchor dug deeper in to the gunship's hull. The next second saw the red Glasgow race past him and out the opening on to the road speeding away behind them, where it activated it's land spinners and raced backward to keep pace with the truck.

The mechanical nightmare sharply turned it's body at an angle before it quickly retracted it's weapon. The skewered VTOL was forcibly pulled by the weight of the machine and sent in to a deadly tail spin, leaking fluids from the new hole in the bottom. The second VTOL quickly gained in altitude to avoid it's fallen brother before it unloaded a wave of hell on to the old knightmare.

From his position speeding away from the encounter Lelouch watched as the female pilot smoothly banked to the right to avoid the machine gun fire before raising the large assault rifle that came as standard equipment. She fired off a quick and stream at the floating air unit that forced the pilot to pull out of the line of danger. To most it would seem like an example of bad aim. But to Lelouch it was a sign of competence.

She forced it out of pursuit. If only for a moment. He noted as the red unit continued to bob behind them in a defensive position, even as they speed further away. She didn't want to risk the VTOL hitting the gas tank and she couldn't take it down over the highway if she was serious about minimizing collateral damage.

It was the kind of forward thinking that was hard to find in even a calm situation much less one of serious chance of death.

She's good. He reasoned as the back door to the truck finally slid back down. Kallen wasn't it?

The time for patience had long since faded away.

"A Knightmare?" The prince of Britannia ground out through clenched teeth as his hands mirrored the action. Silence had fallen over the command center.

"Yes your highness!" There was a different man reporting to him now. The first was too scared. "An old Glasgow your excellency."

"A Glasgow." The blond man deadpanned. "Your telling me your losing to a Glasgow?"

The new officer suddenly envied the genius of the last one. "Um... Yes sir?"

The tension in the room kicked up another notch. Clovis stared back at the man with an extremely serious look on his face. His eyes narrowed in an attempt to show just how much pressure he was under at the moment. An indication that he was due to blow at any possible moment. Even general Bartley, a trusted advisor, had began to hold his breath as if anticipating the prince to suddenly develop heat vision and melt the man standing before his impromptu throne in to a stain on the floor.

"And what are you going to do about this new development?" The tone was devoid of any emotion. The men standing around the bridge quickly realized that this was a Clovis la Britannia that was usually hidden away behind smiles and extravagant actions. They were in real danger here.

"I suppose it would be a good time to deploy military forces as opposed to the police your highness?" The suggestion sounded more like the squeak of a mouse as opposed to that of an actual man.

"You suppose?"

"I respectfully suggest your highness." The man quickly corrected.

"I think that's a fine suggestion." The man turned his gaze back to the bald general. "Make it happen Bartley."

The crash had been the result of a blown tire, a lucky shot from one of the remaining pursuers. The trailer on the back of the truck had listed to the side before finally falling over, dragging the actual truck with it. Lelouch himself had been bodily thrown from onside of the trailer and in to another, almost being smashed to bits by the heavy orange capsule he had been forced to share the enclosed space with.

So he was kept there, pressed down by the kinetic force, as the truck slid across the ground and crashed in to various objects before finally coming to a complete stop. Eventually the momentum was spent and the sounds of screeching metal was replaces with eerie silence and the echo of falling rubble.

He forced his aching body up and out of the newly formed hole, bypassing the orange blob that started all of this trouble, before dropping his body on to the ground in a heap. He shook his head to disperse any further cobwebs as he glanced about the surroundings in front of him.

"Well I'll be damned." He muttered in equal parts amusement and amazement. "These are the tunnels."

And indeed it was. The tunnel system under old Shinjuku, now a ghetto created by a mixture of Britannian oppression and Japanese neglect. These tunnels had been the result of old subway systems and old underpasses that had become abandoned after the fall of Japan. Instead of tearing them down Clovis La Britannian had elected to ignore them in favor of further building his the infrastructure of the various settlements.

As a result the tunnels served as veritable highway on which to secretly transport good and man power for the various resistance groups in Area 11. They were a direct result in why this particular part of the empire had become such a hot bed for native resistance despite the fact that it had been under Britannian control for close to a decade.

And they were also where Lelouch had been heading before this wild adventure had began.

Not necessarily the way I planned it. He mused as his eyes adjusted to the light filtering in through the various cracks in the ceiling. But I suppose the end result is still acceptable.

He stood up and brushed away the dust and dirt that had latched on to his clothes before shaking his head to detaching anything that had reached in to his hair. Violet eyes scanned the area for any signs of danger, glancing back down the way that they had came and then towards the cabin of the truck. Sure that there was no one in the immediate area he then turned back around to face the truck and moved his attention to the metal contraption protruding outward.

"Poison gas." He murmured as the pieces to the puzzle started to fit in to place. "What an idiot you are Clovis."

To his intelligent mind it had become brutally obvious to what the facts in front of him presented. Clovis had been experimenting with something that he most certainly shouldn't have been. Something that was sure to get him in to a lot of trouble with people up above him if it had been found out. Because despite all of the numerous peace treaties Britannia had chosen to ignore there were a few that they held up to with ardent standards. The one banning chemical warfare was one of them. It was, after all, one that the emperor himself had a hand in developing.

And due to the fact that the Clovis' entire administration was crooked and lacking in any kind of morals Lelouch could easily figure out how things had gotten to this point. After all he himself had bribed people for information several times. So it was not out of the realm of idea that someone else had found out about the poison being developed from loose lips. From there it was just the matter of passing on the information to the sort of types that could be exploited through rash actions. Hence these terrorist.

Which brought things back to the current point. Somehow this rag tag group of insurgents had managed to actually pull of the heist necessary to steal the damn thing. But like idiots they were quickly found out and chased across the entire settlement. He himself had just happened to come across their truck and in an act of human kindness gotten himself mixed up with things.

Just his kind of luck.

Clovis will be desperate to find this thing. He reasoned as he stepped closer. If he doesn't the price on his head will be too high. Being disowned would be the least of his worries.

Of course that forced him to consider what would happen if Clovis couldn't re-take the capsule. There was a good chance that, given his cowardly actions in the past, he would simply choose to detonate the device. For that matter this entire thing could just be one big trap. A leak that was planted for the sole fact of deniability.

If Clovis activated the device now, this deep under Shinjuku, he could test it's effectiveness while having a ready made group to take the blame. He could even spin it by saying the efforts on the highway were an attempt to save lives. That would save him any kind of trouble while allowing him to further his own research. A complete win from his point of view.

But that would require a level of thinking that no one his cabinet had shown up to this point. A new player? And was this really Clovis' gas? Or was that just a necessary cover from the crown? He wouldn't put it past Charles Zi Britannia to stoop to such low levels. But that also would go against everything the man had done up to this point. Why go to such desperate measure to develop a chemical based weapon when most of the world was still struggling to catch up to the effectiveness of the Knightmare Frames?

At any rate being here isn't the best idea. He thought with a frown. I need to get out of here and get to the doctor. Maybe move him out of the entire area just in case.

It was a disappointing conclusion but the only one he could make at the current moment. He simply didn't have enough information on the current contents of the container to determine how effect it would be. And despite the fact that Doctor Tanaka lived on the outskirts of Shinjuku he was still in a possibly vulnerable position.

It's time for me to leave-

His ears caught the light sound of someone attempting to quietly step up behind him. Trained reflexes had helped him to move long before the flying kick that had been launched at his back had even the chance to make contact. He dropped down in to a crouch and rolled backward as his assailant glided over his head.

Lelouch sprung up to his feet and dashed forward to meet his new adversary. The man, in a Britannian military uniform, quickly rose to meet his approach. The raven haired teenager feinted a left jab before snapping off a quick side kick with his right leg. The effort was avoid by a quick hop backward before the solider transitioned in to a spinning high kick aimed for the head. It was blocked cleanly by a raised arm.

Lelouch quickly reached out and snagged the ankle before turning his body and using his superior strength to launch the man over his shoulder. The assailant hit the ground on his back in a huff but instantly lashed out with his free leg, catching the teenager off guard. Lelouch stumbled a step to the side as the solider rolled back and up to his feet before rushing forward again.

"Enough mindless murder!" The man snarled as he lashed out with an open right palm. By now Lelouch had recovered and brushed aside the attack before taking a hard step forward. His right hand returned to slap away a rising left knee as he invaded the man's guard, before snapping off two quick hooks with either hand in to the abdomen.

The man stumbled back as the air was forced out of his lungs by the sheer strength of the attack. Lelouch didn't give him time to recover before he slammed another hook home, this one a left to the jaw. The solider was nearly spun around in to a full circle before a follow up front kick to the chest sent him spiraling back to the ground in a heap.

The former mercenary rolled his shoulders as he looked down on to his beaten opponent. A hand came up to brush against the spot where he had been kicked, clean on the edge of his chin. It was a good strong kick that would leave a bruise in the morning. But right now the only thing bruised was his ego.

I've gotten sloppy. He thought with some measure of distain. I let him sneak up on me and land a good hit.

The situation was only made more embarrassing when he finally got a good look at the man's uniform. A private.

I just let a green solider fucking land a hit. The disgust mounted. Old man Hirigawa would be sick.

It was just the sort of wake up call he needed. It was clear that his impressive skills were quickly beginning to apathy with lack of use. Which meant that he needed to do more to challenge himself if he wanted to proceed with his plans. Light spars and beating on a group of thugs doesn't compare to the real thing.

"You scored a good hit." The teenager snarled in part frustration as his hand slid back in to his jacket as he reached for his pistol. "But this is as far as you go-"

"Wait!" The solider exclaimed as he forced himself to sit up by using his elbows. "Lelouch?!"

The former mercenary blinked in surprise before his face went completely solid, dead of all emotion.

"How do you know my name?" He questioned in a monotone as his hand wrapped around the grip to his gun.

Instead of immediately responding the private sat up completely before he reached up and removed the helmet obscuring the upper part of his face. Green eyes stared back at vibrant violet with just as much shock and surprise but still a good measure of reserved joy.

"It's me! Suzaku! " The solider exclaimed as he gestured with his hands. "Kururugi Suzaku!"

Lelouch blinked again, the steel look in his eyes falling away under the weight of his own surprise. He removed his hand from his jacket as he squinted to get a good look at the face of the man.

"Well." He muttered in reply as he tilted his head to the side. "What do you know. It is you."

It was at that moment that the capsule sprang open with the hiss of pressure and a cloud of smoke swept over them.