Chapter Two: Shockwaves of Life

Einstein had to react fast to prevent Nina from rushing at his precious patient and doing him bodily harm, so he jabbed her hard, once, in the solar plexus. She went down instantly.

"Oy, Kevin," Einstein called out to the carriage driver, as he scooped Nina up. "You've got to help bring down all her baggage, okay? I'm sorry, I can't help you today." The driver nodded and mutely went about his task. Einstein turned back into the house, pushing the door behind with his foot. He led the way to the sitting room, Lelouch following meekly behind.

Quite unlike him, Einstein thought, If that girl's tales are true, he shouldn't be so silent.

Einstein dumped Nina unceremoniously on one of the couches, sat down himself, and indicated that Lelouch should do the same. "We can't go anywhere now, I'm afraid," Einstein said. "Sorry about that."

"You're doing quite a bit of apologizing, aren't you?" Lelouch replied, his voice still hoarse from a year of disuse. "Please explain, Doctor. What is going on? Nina was right. I can't-" He swallowed, to moisten his throat. "I can't be alive."

"I know," Einstein said. "Let me ring for some water first, and get someone else who might be able to explain also." He touched a control on his wristwatch and spoke softly into it. Moments later, a maid knocked on the door, bearing a pitcher of ice water and four glasses. With her was the green-haired woman who had brought Lelouch in.

"CC!" Lelouch exclaimed. "I should have known. What- no, why did you bring me back to life? And how did you do it?"

"Simple," CC replied in her usual placid voice. "I asked him to help." She pointed at Einstein. "One of the most brilliant medical minds, if a bit controversial. He was the perfect choice to resurrect you."

"Yes, but- In the name of God, why, CC? Why?" Lelouch pressed on with his original question, and when he looked at the witch, he saw-was it possible?-tears in her eyes.

"CC?" Lelouch got up from his seat and walked towards her. "This isn't like you. What's going on?"

CC smiled. "And this isn't like you, either, Lelouch. Caring about me? When did you ever do that?"

"I..." Lelouch was at a loss for words. "When you lost your memories, I cared about you. I took care of you."

"Not always," CC retorted shortly. "Anyway, to return to your original question... I brought you back to life because I specifically wanted you to fulfil our pact.

"And because I pitied you."

"You what?!" Both Lelouch and Einstein exclaimed at the same time. "Pity? For me, of all people? Are you-"

"You've never had a normal life," CC said. "Being a genius, always keeping a careful distance from people, and most of all, becoming an international terrorist... These are some things that a normal seventeen-year old should never need to do.

"I want you to experience a life of normalcy, Lelouch. The world has settled down now; there are no longer any injustices for you to change."

"Right," Lelouch said, sitting back down in his seat. He realised his hands were trembling, and he poured himself a glass of water, to force himself to calm down. He took a deep breath.

"Right," he said again. "Now just how did you do it?"

"With Doctor-"

"God dammit, I'm not talking medically!" Lelouch yelled, leaping out of his seat. "How did you manage to get me back to normal? How come I'm here, yelling at you, and not unconscious?"

Strange, he thought. I'm yelling. Something is very wrong here.

CC smiled again, that strange, enigmatic smile that seemed to be mocking him. If that smile annoyed him, her next words shocked the hell out of him.

"I gave you half my Code."

This time Lelouch sat stunned in his chair, and simply gaped. CC let out a laugh. "Oh, if you could see the look on your face! And while you're thinking that this is the part when I reveal it's all a joke," her face became dead serious again, "It's not. I am deadly serious, Lelouch vi Britannia."

She had used his real name. Lelouch had never, ever heard her use his real name. He sank back into his padded chair, his head in a whirl. But wait-he had a very important question, one that he couldn't believe had slipped his mind.

"Will my-" he began, but CC shook her head.

"You no longer have your Geass, Lelouch," she said. "Not until I decide to give you one again." Lelouch sank back in his chair, disappointed, but also-

Relieved?

This time it was Lelouch who smiled. Without his Geass, it would definitely be a lot harder to pry information out of people, but to be honest, did he need that? What information would he need that he would have to force people to give it up to him?

"So tell me," he said, pouring himself another glass of water, "What's been going on since I died?"

...

Nina awoke to hear a muted All Hail Britannia!, a tune which, as a Britannian citizen, was not unfamiliar to her. She blinked sleepily and looked around her, rubbing her tummy and wondering vaguely why it hurt so.

That's right... I came to Uncle Victor's this morning... She wrinkled her brow in thought. And- Her eyes shot wide open. Lelouch! He's alive!

Nina made to get up, but her uncle's voice stopped her. "Go easy on the boy," he said. Nina's head shot around and found him standing by the side of the couch she was lying on. "Here, have a drink." He offered her a glass of ice water, and as she sipped it, he went on, "Look, I don't know what happened between you and him in the past, but-"

"You don't know? How could you not know? Where have you been the past few years?" Nina almost shouted. "Didn't you know he used to be Emperor?"

"Hmph. Don't know, don't care," Einstein said carelessly. "Always hated politics. Nowadays I don't give a damn what happens outside my estate. And as to where I've been these past few years-in the basement, testing my cryogenics freezer."

"Please don't tell me you used it on yourself." Nina was only half-joking; from what she had managed to find out about uncle Victor from BIGLOBE and Goggle, he was just person to do that kind of thing and experiment on himself.

"I did not," Einstein said. "Most of the time, anyway." Nina laughed, but it didn't laugh. She motioned her head towards the music.

"What's he up to?" she asked. "Looking for something to do?"

Einstein shook his head. "No, girl," he said. "He's changed. The world's changed. Even if he used to be an international terrorist in the past, he isn't anymore. Now he's just a normal boy trying to get back into the world."

As he finished speaking, Lelouch appeared in the doorway. He stood there for an awkward moment, looking at Nina. She glared back. He opened his mouth to say something, but Nina's unrelenting gaze made him falter. He closed his mouth, shook his head, and turned away.

Nina looked away as well, looking down at the carpeted floor.

"Well?" said her uncle. Nina looked up, surprised. "Don't just sit there, girl! Go after him!"

Nina looked up at the doorway, looked back at her uncle, then back at the doorway again.

"Remember, he's not the boy you used to know..."

Nina got up, and followed in Lelouch's direction.