I do not own Code Geass or any of the Characters. Please keep in mind this book will have sense of Intense Violence and Language later on.
The cold night air was filled with a disturbance. Off in the horizon was a hotel standing defiantly on a lake. The starry sky waved above as watchers to this event. A man dressed in black lead a group of soldiers towards a lone news van. The crew of the vehicle stood far from it leaving it unguarded. They stood around sipping coffee while looking over at the hotel. The masked man singled the soldiers to advance on the van as he climbed atop of it. Two of the soldiers spilt off and enter the front while the rest entered the back. Once every one was settled the van took off heading for a blockade set up by the military to stop terrorist that high jacked the hotel from escaping.
"Now, all that is needed is to place my plan in to action and see if my predictions are correct." Thought the man in the mask, as the group head to place that should have been their doom.
"Hurry," Yelled a soldier in a black uniform as he led the way for a group of people. The group was heavy armed and escorted some one in a mask down a corridor of some kind of military base. They entered a room that looked like a type of laboratory. The lead soldier entered the room and hurried over to a scientist. "Is it ready?" He lead soldier barked.
The scientist lookover her shoulders back at the soldier as she spoke. "We are finishing final calibrations as we speak. It should be finished momentarily."
"Good, we need to hurry with this plan otherwise we will lose this battle." The soldier replied and in response to battle they heard an explosions far off form where they stood.
"I hope this plan of theirs' works." One soldier said to a female soldier who was watching the door with a pistol drawn.
"I hope so to for the sake of all the world." She replied looking out for some one to meet her greetings of lead.
Lights flashed on them as the news van approached the military lines. He heard from the soldier around him that they where stunned that he would show up in a place like this especially since the timing couldn't be any worse. Off to his left he heard a man speaking in to his radio.
"We have confirmed. It is Zero! Should we open fire?" The soldier stood still and nodded is head in agreement. The van continued pressing farther in undisturbed by the soldiers.
"It seems my plan is moving along perfectly, but the hardest part of the operation is just ahead;" thought Lelouch or as the world knew him, Zero. The van pasted Knightmare after Knightmare leaving no escape for them. Those who fallowed Zero where getting nervous from having no escape left. As he neared the bridge a sound of screeching metal could be heard approaching them from the left. Three custom Knightmare Frames blocked his path to the bridge. They each carried lances and a styled cape flowed off from the machines shoulders.
"Cornelia, much as I'd like to pay you back here and now, you're more useful to me alive." Thought Lelouch from atop the van. "If you do what I predict, then I won't need to use my Geass."
From the cockpit located on the back of the Frame stood a Cornelia, his sister. Her lavender hair shown in the darkness of the night that paired well with her flamboyant red uniform and white scarf.
"Well, Well, We meet again, Zero." Cornelia said with slight annoyance in her voice. "Are you a member of the Japan Liberation Front? Or perhaps you intend to help us? Regardless, our concerns take priority over yours at the monument." She continued with her words picking up passion. "And so, for the death of my half-brother Clovis. I shall take my revenge right here." Cornelia said pulling out a long pistol that was more ceremonial then a weapon of combat.
"Cornelia," Zero word cut sharp against her own. "Which would you choice: Clovis, who is dead, or Euphemia, who is Alive?" His words cut Cornelia's stone expression to that of a mix between shock and terror. Lelouch grinned from underneath his helmet. "My suspicions confirmed. The first task at hand is completed." His inner thoughts gloated at beating his sister. "You haven't changed dear sister. You have all ways doted on sweet little Euphemia. That's why you won't take aggressive action; your emotions are getting in the way."
Cornelia stood trembling at the thought of Euphemia and taking revenge on Zero. But Zero knowing that Euphemia was in danger made it impossible for her to shot him.
"It is within my power to save Euphemia for you." Zero words broke the grip of terror on Cornelia and replacing with shock and disbelief.
"What do you mean? I have no idea what you are talking about." Cornelia protested while the gun was still pointing at him.
"I said. I am able to rescue her." Zero reprimanded to Cornelia.
(A minute later.)
"Attention all forces let Zero pass. I repeat let Zero pass." It was a command that was given to all the Britannia troops. As Zero's van passed by Cornelia her face was twisted in to a snarl of both revenge and hatred. There was nothing more that she could do not with Euphemia on the line and her face showed it all to Lelouch as he passed her.
"Either the Japan Liberation front will accept me as their ally. Or they are going to treat me as nothing more then a nuisance. In any event I highly doubt they could resist the temptation of meeting the infamous Zero. We shall see." Zero thought to himself as the van now approached the guard gates of the hotel. As the van approached the guards stood aside waving the van through. "Excellent." Lelouch said to himself as they started to proceed through. "All the operations preliminary conditions have been cleared."
The laboratory flashed blue as an energy field filled the room from a glass window of the test chamber. In the room a group of soldiers awaited the results from the reaction in the other room. The Scientist looked up from a screen as the light reflected of her glasses. Her hair was shorter with a brown locks that where somewhat unkept.
"The reaction is stable." She said in a hurried tone that was verified by another explosion that happened from outside. "I suggest you and your group leave immediately."
"Are the Knightmare frames we requested for ready?" Asked the lead soldier whose hair was a deep red with a medium built body.
"Yes," replied the scientist as she type keys onto the screen.
"Kathryn Weinberg." The lead soldier barked.
"Yes, Captain Tamaki?" The female soldier over by the door answered while keeping a look out.
"Prepare to move out. You are going to take point so leave early." Captain Tamaki said as he turned his attention to the rest of the group.
"Yes sir." Replied the younger female soldier as she took off her hat reveling dark blond hair. She headed for a room on one side of the lab that head to the room with the blue energy field.
"Sargent Untier Freundinigh, Privates Ronshotto Taigā, Clé Singe, Costina Risanare, and Jack Mockey, prepare to move out as well." Captain Tamaki continued to bark out orders.
"Yes Sir!" The group of five said saluting and then headed through the same door as Kathryn Weinberg.
The man in the lead was Sgt. Untier Freundinigh. The Sgt. was a brute of a man weighing in four hundred pounds of just muscle that had been artificial enhance. His heavy frame almost bulged out of his black uniform that was large enough for an elephant to begin with. His height was also "6'5" with chestnut brown hair that was sticking out from his hat. His eyes where a deep blue could barley be seen sticking out of the visor on his hat.
Next in line was Ronshotto Taigā was almost an opposite of Untier. His frame was between light and medium built as he stood just under "5'7." His face was slim and almost bird like with eye that were always looking around. His black, silk, hair hung down off his back in a ponytail that swayed as he walked.
Behind Ronshotto was Costina Risanare. She walked carrying a heavy case with the white and red cross on the side. Her hair was a mud red that was braided as it hung just blow the shoulders. She was slightly tall then Ronshotto by an inch and had a smaller frame. She carried herself with pride but her face was distorted with worry most of the time. Behind her was Jack Mockey who made her fell uneasy.
Jack Mockey had the darkest skin in the group for it was a dark tan. He stood at a full six feet tall with eye that could look in a pierce the soul. Unlike most of the soldiers he did not wear a hat that covered his face. Instead he wore a bright blue head ban that his black spiky hair fell over. His face had a black tattoo of some tribal pattern that moved around his right eye.
Lastly there was Clé Singe. He was an average sized man with blond hair the rested on his shoulder. He had deep blue eyes and a friendly smile on his face even though the base was under attack. He was also was the only other person who carried any bags. He jingled as he stepped from the five duffle bags that were strapped around his body.
Once all five had left Captain Tamaki was about to give another order then an explosion happened that shock the room. This caused the Scientist to scream and cling on Tamaki.
"Would please get a hold on yourself Doctor Croomy?" Tamaki said as he pried her off in annoyance.
Doctor Croomy blinked at him then bowed to him multiply times as she said sorry.
"Captain Tamaki, I am afraid that if we do not leave now the Britannian force shall over run this base. If that happens this operation will fail giving our enemy the much-needed advantage over us in this war. " Said the masked figure who was standing in the middle of the room. Not much could be told of the figure since the cloak that they wore hides most of their body. The mask they wore was black with a blue glass that hided the face underneath. The mask kept the identity hidden at all times by changing their voice as well.
"Your right Zero, we should head out now." Captain Tamaki said with a salute.
"Good, but since the enemy is knocking at your door we must make some changes to our plan." Zero said standing emotionless in the center of the group. "We cannot allow the Britannian force to get their hands on Doctor Croomy. Therefore we shall only be taking the forces that went on ahead. I know the plan was for ten of us to go, but Doctor Croomy is too important for us to much of a loose end. Once we head out, I want the remaining units to escort her to safety. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Zero." Captain Tamaki and the others replied.
"Good. Now we must be taking our leave before it is to late." Zero said walking towards the door. Behind Zero fallowed Captain Tamaki down the corridor that lead to the room with the blue energy. Right before the room with the energy was cockpits to Knightmare Frames. As Zero and Captain Tamaki a order was given.
"We are heading out now, so get to your Knightmares and get through that portal." Captain Tamaki said walking to an open Cockpit. All the soldiers jumped in to action finishing up what ever they were working on then moved in to the cockpits. Even if they where not finished preparing. Zero entered one of the machines and opened the com-link.
"Now Black Knights, we shall leave heading on a path that we may never return." Zero said to the small group of seven soldiers.
"We shall follow you Zero to the depths of hell in order to restore piece." Replied Captain Tamaki.
"Then let us march onward to hell and return to it when peace has been restored to this world." With that Zero activated the Sutherland Knightmare and entered the portal.
Now in the hotel Zero stood in front of the leader of the Japan Liberation Front who had taken the hotel hostage.
"You have no intention of joining me?" Zero inquired.
"Remove that mask and revile your face to us, its disrespectful not to." Said Lt. Col. Kusakabe who was sitting on a couch with a katana held in his hands.
"I understand, but before I do. I would like to ask you something." Zero responded in turn. "What exactly do you wish to accomplishes by doing this action?"
"Gain attention. I want this country and the world to know that the Japanese aren't dead yet." Lt. Col. Kusakabe said prolonging the last two words.
"How stale." Zero said in disgust.
"Hmm." Kusakabe had a confused look to Zero comment.
"You people are obsolete. There is no saving you." His voice was still stained with distain for Kusakabe answer.
"What? Why you arrogate." A soldier shouted out in anger but was cut short by Kusakabe.
"Explain what you mean by that Zero." Kusakabe asked with a clam tone.
At the door Lelouch heard a soldier tell a guard that he had brought a prisoner who claimed to be princess Euphemia. He his widened in shock, but his body did not react to the words that he heard. At the same time Kusakabe made his move.
"Zero, there is no point in talking any more." The Lt. Col shouted as he lunged for Lelouch with his sword drawn.
At that monument Lelouch opened the screen that hid his eyes. He activated his geass causing a bird to form in his left eye. From his mouth parted one command. "Die." Every one in the room then gladly took their own life. Lelouch pulled from his holster a pistol and pointed it at the door as the men in the room placed their pistols to their heads and pulled the triggers while Lt. Col. Kusakabe fell on his own sword. From the door a solder slammed it open shouting. "Colonel!" the man cried right before Lelouch shot him in the arm.
"Clam yourselves." Lelouch said to the JLF soldier that stood in the door with Euphemia as their captive.
"Zero." Euphemia said in realization of who he was.
"Colonel Kusakabe committed suicide when they realized how meaningless this operation was. Euphemia you willing to scarifies yourself for the commoners." Lelouch said then he softened his tone. "You haven't changed."
Somewhere near Lake Kawaguchi a blue portal as eight Knightmare frames road out.
"Captain Tamaki report." Zero said over their encrypted channel.
Captain Tamaki looked through the data he was receiving form the seven other Knightmares they had brought with them. "It is looking good Zero." He reported in.
"Good, we are proceeding as planned. " Zero said to all gathered. "Now Jack, begin to search local networks of information on where we are."
"Understood." Jack replied in a deep monotone voice.
"Clé you do the same." Zero said to the shifty man on the screen.
"Roger, Dodger." Clé said with the bags still strapped to his body.
"Sir." This time Zero's screen switched from multiply screens and moved to a much lager picture of Kathryn. She no longer was wearing the standard uniform, but a single piece black jump suit. Her hair was down and was no longer confined by the hat she was wearing. Her bangs were the longest of her hair. It hung down by her checks while the hair in the back was shorter that also spiked upwards. She had blue eyes that were a noticeable feature.
"Yes?" Zero asked while waiting for the data from Clé and Jack.
"It might not be good for us to stay here since this area is Lake Kawaguchi." Kathryn said showing a map of the area.
"You have a valid point there, Kathryn." Zero said while studding the map. "Once we have some more information from Clé and Jack we shall leave the area immediately."
"Understood Zero." Kathryn replied in a military manor.
Right after Kathryn's image diminish a image of a envelope appeared. Zero opened the attachment to find it was a message from Doctor Croomy.
"Zero," began the blurred recording of the person responsible for the possibility of the mission. "We have shut down the system for the device, but it will take a few minutes before the portal passes. So I would expect company from this side if I were you. We are just about finished destroying any evidence of this machine and will leave after this message is sent. We will be able to bring you back after you mission is complete. We all wish you luck and God speed." The video turned to white wash and Zero shut it down.
"Captain Tamaki we might have company any minute. Please prepare for trouble." Zero said relaying the information from the video.
"Understood Zero, we shall set up positions around the portal just incase."
Once the portal was closed and Clé and Jack where finished Zero planned on giving the order to move out hopefully before they were discovered."
In the room stood princess Euphemia alone with Zero as his men kept the JLF soldier occupied at the monument.
"I have heard you are now the Sub-Viceroy your Highness." Lelouch said as if it was small talk. "Princess Euphemia vi Britannia." His voice gained a small hint of a hard edge saying her full name.
"Its not an appointment I am happy with." Euphemia replied with out a hint of fear in her voice.
"No." Lelouch began in a politician tone. "That because Clovis was murder. That was my handy work."
Euphemia's eyes slightly widen at this as Zero continued on.
"He beg pathetically for his life till the very end. He pleaded with the same tough that ordered the death of elevens."
"So, is that the reason you killed my brother?" Euphemia asked with eyes mixed with sadness and hate but still retained then natural kindness.
"No." Lelouch's answer was long and drawn out.
"Then why?" Euphemia demand.
"Because Clovis was an offspring of the Britannian Emperor." His words he spoke where cold as ice. This caused Euphemia to flee he mask of bravery as her eye filled with fear. "That reminds me." Lelouch said pulling out his pistol from his holster and pointing it at Euphemia. "Your one of his children to? Aren't you?"
Lelouch stood looking out a window from the hotel. His plan for this operation was almost complete. From the bridge came an explosion from underneath the water. Out jumped a white Knightmare as it shot towards the hotel. Lelouch felt the ground shake underneath his feet as the hotel began to sink into the water. Lelouch looked at the Knightmare. "The white Knightmare from before." He thought in surprises.
He knew the pilot of that machine was watching him as he press the remote detonator that set off the explosives around the hotel. Around the hotel members of the Britannia army thought all hope was lost for the hostages. Meanwhile Lelouch and the group of people he lead began to sail out from the smoke and rubble of the hotel. Once they where clear from the smoke he gave a single to begin broadcasting off of the equipment he had taken from the van.
"My dear Britannians." Lelouch said facing the camera. "Have, no fear. All of hostages from the hotel are safe and sound. I Zero, return them to you unharmed." As he spoke of the hostages the camera was focusing on them as it spread across the lifeboats that carried them. He gave a brief pause as the camera focused on him again and let lights on the boat illuminated the front deck showing him and his soldiers. "People. Fear us, or rally behind us as you see fit." Lelouch's words began to pick up with speed as well as power. "We are the Black Knights. We of the Black Knights stand with those who have no weapons to wield, regardless if they be Elevens or Britannians. The Japan Liberation Front cowardly took innocent Britannian civilian hostage and them mercilessly executed them. It was a want and meaningless act. Therefore they have been punished. Just as former Viceroy Clovis was punished for ordering the slaughter of countless unarmed Elevens. We cannot stand by and let such cruelty be carried out, and so we made him pay for his actions. I will not repudiate battle on a fair and level field, but neither will I tolerate a one-side massacre, of the weak by the strong. The only ones who you should kill are those who are prepared to be killed! Wherever there are oppressors that have used their power to attack the powerless, we shall appear again; no mater how mighty, how formidable our foe may be. Those of you with power fear us!" With that he moved his left arm so it stood outstretched. "Those of you with out it rally behind us!" This time he moved his right arm in the same motion. "We, the Black Knights, shall stand in judgment of this world!" With that the Black Knights retreated as they made their first appearance in history.
Off in the distance Zero and the group of small soldiers heard a large explosion. A few minutes later they where intercepting a broad cast on all channels. Upon opening it Zero began to laugh. On the screen was Zero, the first Zero. He was giving what historian would later on tell as the Birth of the Black Knights. Zero opened a com-link to Clé and Jack.
"You can places the data search on secondary. Since I now know what the date is." Zero said forcing down the laughter. That crazy Scientist was right. Zero thought trying regaining the emotional control over the happiness that they where now in the past. This changes everything, but before I start congratulations, we must make sure that portal closes. Once the portal was about to finishes closing they picked up an energy spike.
"All unit prepare for battle." Zero said as the enemy unit was stepping through the portal. From the portal walked a large white Knightmare. The core frame was twice the size of a Sutherland core. To keep the Knightmare stable it used four quad-legs.
"Ah, so you have been working on a teleport system you rats." A voice of the pilot said from the enemy nightmare. The machine carried a large weapon that was resting on the shoulder. "I shall destroy you then bring back my findings to Holy Empire." The pilot said gloating with austerity. "It is even better that you insects are in those relics."
"Quite you bastard." Kathryn said moving he Knightmare forward. It looked as if she was going to punch the enemy Knightmare. "Don't you underestimate us of the Zero Guard."
"Ah, the Zero Guard. Then that means our ever pest of a leader Zero is here." The giant Knightmare simply moved its arm to block Kathryn's attack. He was more then a little surprise when from her Knightmare's arm shot out a type of claw. It dug in and started to glow a black crimson.
"Take this you bastard." Kathryn yelled griping tight on the trigger for her weapon.
"A Radiant Wave Surger?" The pilot said with surprise as he quickly ejected the arm the claw ripped into. The arm burst in to shrapnel as Kathryn retreated backwards.
"That right Britannian, these may look like normal Sutherlands, but these have hand to hand combat abilities of 15th generation Knightmares. Your 14th generation is no match here." Zero said as two Radiant Wave Sugers popped out of the Knightmare's arms.
"Dam you Black Knights. Dam you all to hell." The enemy pilot screamed from his Knightmare. He turned the Knightmare at Captain Tamaki Knightmare and was preparing to fire. "I'll send you all to meet your maker before any of your kind beats me." He screamed once more.
Just before the Knightmare was going to shot Tamaki it had suffered a cutting blow to the legs on its right side. In front of Tamaki's Knightmare stood Stg. Untier holding a weapon larger then his body. He had ejected from the chest of his Knightmare and grabbed a weapon on the way towards the Knightmare. The weapon was half of a Slash Harken that disengaged from his Knightmare. From his back Untier pulled a bullet about the size of his forearm. The single blade opened up into two blades and showed a gun barrel that he loaded the bullet into. He held it by the back of the blade as his side supported it. He fired the weapon as he slid back from the force that damaged the Britannian's weapon.
"A Canon, here of all places. You will pay for what you have done Zero. You and the Black Knights shall all pay. Once I capture you we will finally have the location of our Empress. Then we shall take over the world." The pilot raved in frustration.
"If that is what you think, then fight me without Knightmares." Zero said in reply. The hatch of the Knightmare opened and Zero used the pilot cord to reach the ground. The pilot of the Britannian Knightmare stared at his screen then grinned. He to exited his Knightmare with his brown hair dripping with sweet. They both covered the ground in between the two Knightmares in Zero's hands where two swords. The pilot pulled out his pistol and throws it to the side. At the same time Zero placed a sword in the ground and took a few steps back. The pilot grabbed the sword and looked at Zero.
"It doesn't seem right for me to fight a man in honor if you can't even see their face." The pilot taunted.
"Your right." Zero said with out even a hint of falling for the ruse. "It is only fair for you to see the face of the person that shall end your life."
Zero's words shocked the Black Knights gathered around them watching the fight. They all held their breath as Zero reached up and unlocked the mask. The cloak that was normally sourced in place also fell to the ground with the removal of the mask. They all stood with mouths agape from the long black hair escaping from the mask.
"Zerorororo is a aaa Woman?!" The pilot exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, I am a woman." She said in a clam tone. "I shall even tell you my name Knight, since you will not live long." Her voice clam and soothing turned dark and venomous as she spoke. "My name before I took the responsibility of Zero was Lalouch vi Britannia. Your so called Empress."
Every one but Captain Tamaki was speechless and unable to move. He was not surprise by her identity since he already knew it, but he was surprise that she reviled it so easily.
The pilot's eyes widen with recognition. "Please forgive me my Queen." He said dropping to his knee. "I had no idea that was you I spoke to."
Lalouch walked towards the Knight her pace was slow and steady as a cobra before it strike. She stopped before him and lifted his face so that he looked her in the eyes.
"There is no need to fear my Knight, since I have a task only you can do." Her smile was cruel and merciless as a red bird appeared in her left eye.
Lalouch and the Black Knights, that followed her, where on the move again heading in the direction of Tokyo Settlement. The other where quite not wanting to ask anything since they found out who was behind the mask. Lalouch had just finished replacing her cloak when Kathryn was the one to ask the question first.
"Is what, what we heard all real?" Her voice held little back, showing just how confuse they all where.
"Yes, it is Kathryn." She said turning her attention to replacing the mask. "I was Lalouch vi Britannia, but she died a long time ago. Now only Zero remains."
"But that doesn't make any sense." Costina irrupted. "If you died long ago then you wouldn't be here and what did you do to that pilot back there?" The shock was evident in her voice.
"I can explain that one." This came from Tamaki who was letting the Knightmare follow the others on autopilot. "Zero, or Lalouch if you want to call her that is an almost prefect clone of Lelouch vi Britannia, the first Zero. This also means she has a version of Geass, which is similar to Lelouch's." His voice was solemn as he spoke. "I recused her when she was only twelve when we discovered a Britannian headquarters. I was only a lieutenant then when I discovered a heavily guarded room with a young girl inside. She asked if I was there to kill her, but all I could do was grab her and run since they where going to blow up the base. Two years later she accepted the responsibility of Zero letting the past Zero retire, and that is all I am going to tell you."
They all looked sheepish after hear Tamaki's story. They all felt bad for doubting her for a second.
"I would feel the same positions as you." Zero said leading the way to Tokyo Settlement. "I also was going to tell you after we had a safe house."
That made every ones nerves relax just a little, but they could forget the sight in which they saw something pure evil. Lalouch was not letting it show, but their was some monster underneath the skin and was now trying to claw its way out. The scary thing was that it was trapped in the form of a twelve-year-old girl.
Heading in the opposite direction was the enemy knight. "I shall carry out my order for her majesty even if my life is forfeit." His voice was filled with pride from the orders that where given to him. His Knightmare walked getting father and father away from Lalouch and her group. The machine almost crawled from the damaged legs as it pressed onwards. The pilot just kept laughing as the screen counted down. The cockpit flashed red warning of an impending danger that he needed to escape from, but he just laughed. "All for you my Queen." He shouted as the timer hit zero. The Knightmare stopped moving then a white light shot from the cracks in the machine. Shortly after the Knightmare exploded leaving nothing of itself or its pilot behind.
As Lalouch heard the explosion from her cockpit and thought only of her mission. She knew that the only way to save the future was to save world with out the Zero Requiem. She looked out and saw Tokyo Settlement where her mission was taking her. In front of the future Black Knights was new world where any of their actions could change the face of the future.