Code Geass: Brand New World

Episode 1: The Two Emperors

Part 2

Author's Note: I have no connection to Sunrise, CLAMP, Bandai, and all those lovely people. As a fan of Code Geass, I am inexplicably drawn to the universe to write fanfiction in. Much like my Rivalz fanfiction (which I probably will return to much later) this world is non cannon and should only be used for non-profit entertainment purposes only. Please support the official release.

The date was August 10, 2015 of the Imperial Calendar. On the fifth anniversary of the subjugation of Japan and the incorporation of Area Eleven, Charles zi Britannia, the 98th Emperor of Britannia, was poisoned by his own son, eleventh prince Lelouch vi Britannia, last remaining of the vi Britannia. In the following coup, he executed princes Odysseus and Schneizel, his main opponents to his rule, and transferred his militaristic siblings away from the palaces at Pendragon. Taking upon the title of 99th Emperor, Lelouch is determined to keep his Empire under an iron grasp...

...

"Impossible."

Lelouch vi Britannia, deposed 99th Emperor of Britannia, executed by Zero, was staring at himself, one year younger, ruling the Empire he himself has just passed on to his sister.

He knew that this couldn't possibly be the same person. There was no hint of a tell in this new Emperor's face, no subtle clue that Emperor Lelouch was putting up a cruel and tyrannical facade. This was a man who ruled the world and wanted everyone else to know it. This was Emperor Lelouch vi Britannia, the tyrant king.

"Impossible." Lelouch vi Britannia, the hero, muttered to himself yet again.

A couple walking down the street after the announcement had faded away into the original broadcasting caught Lelouch off guard, causing him to hiss and sink back into the shadows of the alley. I need to focus. He thought, taking stock of his situation.

Moments ago, I was stabbed by Suzaku, and slid down the float to rest at Nunnaly's side. He clenched his teeth. That could have gone better, I had no intention of letting my sister anywhere near my corpse. But now I am alive again, woundless, but with blood still wet on my robes, and in a world in which I am Emperor? Could this be Geass? No, this doesn't fit with anything I know of Geass...

As though sent by the winds of destiny, a newspaper fluttered by Lelouch's head. Instinctively, he caught it and glanced at the front page.

The Osaka bombings... of course. This was a year ago. But how am I Emperor? I feel like I've stepped into an alternate universe. That may be the case, but how? Another approaching crowd lead him to turn around and flee back down the alleyway. I don't have any time for this. I need to get out of here; how am I supposed to explain how their Emperor arrived in Japan early, stained with blood.

Rounding a corner, he paused to catch his breath. I could use Geass. But... He looked down into a puddle to see his own natural purple eyes staring back at him, no glowing eyes, no contact lenses. He glared at the puddle, commanding himself, "I order you to remove your shirt." Nothing, there was not even a twinge that his Geass was trying to work. Another problem, but one I can survive without for now.

He turned up and looked at the familiar skyline. The Settlement... before FLEIJA. He felt a twinge of nostalgia as he saw familiar buildings in the distance: the Government building he faced Cornelia over, the edge of the mall where he faced Jeremiah, the tips of the casinos he toppled during his return. All familiar buildings yet not enough to bring a tear to his eyes.

I need to find a change of clothes. He began to plan, what he was best at. Then I will need to find a disguise. A wig, a pair of sunglasses, anything. Then I will be free to plan my next move.

...

Lelouch maneuvered his way through the dark corners of the ghetto, avoiding patrolling police officers and roaming Elevens with ease. Shinjuku, he thought, It's funny. This is where everything began. It seems... fitting that I begin to explore this new world here as well...

It didn't take long for him to acquire a new coat and pants from a dumpster outside of the settlement. It may have been a homeless man's wardrobe, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to take. As he passed under the ruins of the yet-to-be demolished ghetto, he hid his face while searching for a safe piece of shelter yet to be claimed by one of the Elevens.

He cursed under his breath. Minutes into returning to the old Area Eleven and he was already falling back into old habits. The Japanese were not mere Elevens, and Japan was not simply Area Eleven. And yet he had returned to that world he had fought to change. But something about the timing felt familiar; he could have sworn he remembered the Osaka bombings in relation to something else.

Finally he found some shelter in the ruins of an old shop, the sign out front blocking the remnants of the store front. Lelouch broke in through a side entrance, unlocked but barricaded by debris on the other side. The building looked stable enough, while the open windows provided natural light into the otherwise damp structure. It had been plundered years ago, that was clear, but it was perfect for Lelouch to hide out in, temporarily at least.

"Ach," he twitched as a rat scurried across his feet. He laughed at himself. "You've spent too much time as an Emperor, Lelouch. You've gone soft."

The click of a pistol stopped his laughter cold.

Lelouch froze, staring at the blanked wall opposite him, a second figure having snuck into his hideout behind him. The assailant silently stood out of Lelouch's sight, pointing the pistol at his back. Seconds droned on in silence, as Lelouch considered his options.

"Well?" He called out, trying to stall for time.

"I'm deciding whether or not to shoot you right here, your majesty."

Lelouch sighed in relief as he recognized the familiar voice of an old companion. "Kallen Kozuki..."

"Shut up," the red-headed terrorist shot back, keeping the gun level at his heart. "After everything you've done, tell me why I shouldn't kill you where you stand?"

Lelouch raised his hands in surrender. "Because I am Zero."

Kallen snorted in derision, "Don't give me that crap, Lelouch. You abandoned us to go play Emperor and take over the world. Then you took over Damocles and..."

"I threw you in jail and paraded you through the streets of Tokyo, but I believe I was already killed for my crimes, Kallen." Lelouch said, cutting her rant off. He glanced over his shoulder. "Remember?"

He saw that standing behind him, Kallen was still wearing the white restraining coat from when she and the other Black Knights were paraded through the Settlement, but she had torn her sleeves off, freeing her to point the gun at her former boss. She said nothing at this.

"Kallen..." he said calmingly, "...I did all of that to create a brand new world, a world without war and terror. A world where Nunnaly could live safely. And then I killed myself to make sure it came true. Please Kallen, understand."

More tense seconds dragged through time as Kallen silently stared at Lelouch. Finally, he lowered her weapon, but kept it in her hands. "Suzaku?"

Lelouch nodded and turned around, lowering his hands. Kallen shook her head. "I should have known you'd have another trick up your sleeve. How'd you do it? How'd he escape the explosion?"

"You'd have to ask Lord Asplund that question; he was the one who mad the modifications to the Lancelot."

"It doesn't seem like we're going to find him here." Kallen commented, looking out at the ghetto. "Where ARE we? I mean, I know we're in Shinjuku, but what's going on?"

"I think we've been taken to another universe." Lelouch replied, walking over to her. " A universe in which I've apparently seized the throne for my own gain."

"The real evil Lelouch." Kallen laughed at it. "I can't wait to kill you."

Lelouch just looked pensively at Kallen, who looked back expectantly. "Come on, are you seriously considering doing nothing about this? He's worse than your father was. And you expect me to sit back while Japan is still..."

"On the contrary, Kallen," Lelouch replied, "I'm not going to allow the Emperor rule for any longer than is necessary. I started as Zero to rid this world of evil, of tyranny, and now..."

And explosion rocked the ghetto, a plume of smoke being cast into the sky. The homeless Japanese on the street below looked up in shock at the sight of another act of terrorism. Kallen stared in shock at the sudden explosion, her weapon ready again.

"Of course, the Osaka bombings." Lelouch muttered remembering what else occurred the day they were televised. "This must be..."

...

"What?" Earl Lee cried out over the radio.

"A bomb on the main path!" B-1 called back to his commander. "it must have been placed after we cleared the area but before the first truck arrived. The advance guard and the first decoy has been taken out completely."

"Impossible, they can't have known our path!" The Earl yelled back at his subordinate. He leaned back heavily in his cockpit, trying to regain control of himself. "It's all right, switch to the backup route. B-4, come in, we are switching to..."

"We're under attack!"

Shocked, the Earl yelled at the radio, "B-4, acknowledge!"

"This is B-4, we are under attack from unknown hostiles along the backup route. We've been compromised! AGH!" And explosion cut off the radio, filling the cockpit with static.

What the hell is going on? The Earl panicked. They know our route!

"Orders, sir?" K-1 called out from next to him. The Earl looked up again, the convoy had stopped under the recent barrage of information.

"Keep moving!" The Earl yelled at his soldiers, "We can't allow the convoy to become a sitting target! We need to take escape route..." he mulled over the options, "...beta."

"Sir," K-1 interjected, "That takes us through..."

"I know," the Earl snapped back, "but it's the furthest from current attacks. We'll steer clear of those routes and make our way straight for emergency point one and from there meet up with reinforcements from the South Base. K-1 and K-2, form up with me along the package. K-3, move ahead and clear the route. Other nearby knights, form up along the convoy immediately!"

A chorus of "Yes, my lord!" Rang out through his cockpit, but the Earl didn't pay attention. This is a disaster, but it's still salvageable. I may get chastised by the Emperor, but I won't lose my position. Damn, we need to get away from those terrorists!

...

"The convoy is entering the ghetto. The knights are forming up alongside the third truck from the front."

"All right, then the package must be in that truck. Yoshida and Nagata, prepare to isolate the truck. I'll attack on your mark. We have seconds to get it away before they realize what hit them."

"Yes sir!"

The terrorist leader sat back in the Glasgow that served as his command unit. His eyes burned with fierce devotion. In the distance, he could hear the rumble of explosions and the approach of the convoy. Sighing, he touched a photograph of his childhood in old Japan before in invasion. When he looked up at the screen in front of him, he saw the convoy begin to round the corner, an advance knightmare frame overlooking his hiding spot behind a wall.

"All right," Naoto Kozuki called out to the Britannian forces as the target vehicle passed, "this is for my sister you Britannian bastards!'

Author's Note: I'm so happy I wrote most of this last night during my creative whirlwind. Anyway, part two of... some number is up and I can't wait to hear more lovely reviews. I'll accept practically anything: ideas, inspiration, hell, even a cameo OC shout-out idea. In any case, I'll at least have episode one done soon. Just keep writing and hopefully it will guilt me into continuing past that.