" " for dialogue

Italics for thought (or stress when just a word or two)

Mask 2: The Prince of Masks Becomes Hamza Alam

Middle East
Hamza Alam's Fort
2017 a.t.b.
2300 hours

Minoru was lying on his back, peering through sandbags at the ground below him. Even through the night, he could see that at least a few thousand soldiers stood in the large, open field. Most were unarmed, having rushed to the area.

Next to him lay a Chinese woman. "When's Lelouch coming?" asked Lei.

As if to answer, a red LED light lit up on a small panel in front of the woman. Someone had tripped the sensors she'd placed on the staircase. The people lying on the floor turned, guns drawn, as the door opened. They relaxed as they saw two masked figures.

"What took you so long?" asked Rafael.

One man took off his mask to reveal a Britannian man. Lelouch smiled as he lay down with the rest. "Sorry we're late. It took a bit longer than we thought to hide Hamza. That guy must weigh at least three hundred pounds. The guards weren't exactly a light load either."

The group chuckled quietly as Lelouch brought out a laptop. Lei brought her hands on top of the panel in front of her, which served as a large remote. Everyone grew quiet as Lelouch brought out a microphone. The same microphone that had been by Hamza's bed. He cleared his throat, and the entire city was able to hear his next words.

"Attention enemy forces gathered at the city's field. You, as well as your dear leader, are now at gunpoint. Flicking a series of switches, Lei turned on lights placed on the surrounding buildings, as well as a series of red lasers. The combined effect made all the gathered soldiers think they were being targeted, as well as surrounded. Lelouch continued. "I'm aware that the civilians and knightmare pilots in the area can hear me. Know that if anyone makes a move, your comrades will die.

Then the speakers magnified along the walls, allowing the Britannian Army to hear. "This fort has been taken over by the Holy Britannian Empire. Here is a warning to any who try to resist."

This time, Rafael squeezes a trigger on a small remote he was carrying. Immediately, the city lights up in a series of intimidatingly large explosions. The explosions took out all the buildings around the city that housed weaponry. Emeka presses a button on his laptop.

Soon the enemy is left dazed, confused, practically weaponless, and now without functioning radio frequencies. It helped that the enemy thought they were surrounded. Almost in unison, all the soldiers dropped any weapons they had and raised their arms in surrender. Through cameras he'd set up on their way in, Lelouch saw all the Bamides pilots doing the same, leaving their tanks with their hands up. Lelouch smiled as he gave his dear half-sister a midnight call.

Encyclopedia Britannica:

The Ambush at Hamza's Fort-

Britannian Commander: Lelouch vi Britannia

Middle Eastern Commander: Hamza Alam

Britannian Forces: 6

Middle Eastern Forces: 6,786

Britannian Casualties (killed/injured/captured): 0 (0/0/0)

Middle Eastern Casualties (killed/injured/captured): 6,786 (0/0/6,786)

Next Day
0400 hours

Lelouch smiled as he stood up and looked around. It had taken an hour to wake the Britannian Army, another two hours to get them to believe the enemy had surrendered and that they could go in the fort, and the last hour to gather up the thousands of prisoners, civilians and soldiers alike. He saw with satisfaction a helicopter landing on the apartment roof, from which Lelouch and his men had dared not leave until Britannia had full control of the city.

Out of the helicopter jumped three figures: Cornelia, Guilford, and Darlton. Lelouch noted with amusement that all of them still showed traces of shock. Lelouch and his men turned to salute the Princess. After a few silent moments, Cornelia returned the salute and said, "Well, God knows how, but you did it. You took over a fortress in less than 24 hours of active military duty. With the help of five low-life foot soldiers, too."

Lelouch bit his lip. He could feel the 'low-life foot soldiers' confusion at what the princess said. Lelouch had forgotten to mention that he was new to the military. "I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from calling my men low-life's." He smiled inwardly as he could almost feel the appreciation his men felt for him sticking up for them. Against royalty, of all people.

"Very well," said Cornelia. "However, this victory means that you won't have to resort to these kinds of men."

"Hey Emeka, any idea why Her Highness is speaking so informally to Lelouch?" whispered Minoru.

Apparently, he hadn't whispered quietly enough. Guilford, looking scandalized for a moment, quickly marches up to the man. "How dare you address His Highness like that?" He raises his arm as if to slap the man. Lelouch quickly steps in between them.

The prince glares at Cornelia's Knight. "These are my men. I allowed, no, I ordered them to address me by first name, and you have no right to discipline them over that."

His declaration was barely noticed as the four foot soldiers realized what Guilford had said.

Emeka is the first to stutter, "H-His Highness? What do you mean by that?"

Lelouch sighed. He turned to face his five subordinates, and surprised everyone with a graceful bow. "Indeed. Lamperouge is simply my mother's maiden name. My birth name is Lelouch vi Britannia, Eleventh Prince of Britannia."

On many occasions before, Lelouch's eccentric statements had almost made his men gape. Almost. But this time, their mouths literally fell open. Lelouch turned to Cornelia. "Cornelia, can you give me some time with my men? I'll join you in the helicopter after a bit."

Cornelia was about to protest but shuts her mouth after seeing her brother's glare. She knew that, when Lelouch looked at a person like that, it meant that he would not take no as an answer. "Come on, Guilford, Darlton." Her knight opens his mouth to protest, but he meets a glare very similar to Lelouch's. Darlton privately noted with amusement that this was one of the few times Lelouch and Cornelia had looked related.

As the three figures moved back into the helicopter, Lelouch turned to his five subordinates. He sighed. "Now you all know why I had enough clearance to accurately hand-pick you." He walked closer to them. "I fully intend to keep my promises. As a prince, it'll be simple enough for me to arrange your transfers."

Rafael remarked with a slightly wistful grin, "Your Highness is too good for us regular soldiers, right?"

Lelouch grinned slightly. "Not quite." All five subordinates stared at him questioningly. Surely he wouldn't require them to do more work before being transferred.

As if hearing this, Lelouch chuckled slightly. As if talking to himself, he looked up into the sky and said, "I'm a prince that is finally entering the world of war and politics. As with every member of royalty, it becomes necessary to gather around me skilled comrades who can protect me. For example, Cornelia has her Glaston Knights. Now that I'm in the military, I need to recruit a personal guard. My royal guard is composed of members of my choosing. That means that if I say race doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."

The five assembled non-Britannians started to grasp what their leader was saying. Hazel was first to voice what they were all thinking. "Are you suggesting that…?"

Lelouch looked at his comrades and smiled. "In my guard, I need people I can count on. People who have great potential, and I can't think of a better measure of potential than taking over a fortress with five other people that you never knew 24 hours ago…" He spread out his arms magnanimously. "I, Lelouch vi Britannia, Eleventh Prince of Britannia, ask Hazel Park, Minoru Takahashi, Emeka Azubuike, Lei Li, and Rafael Domingues, will you become my royal guard?"

All five of the people he asked took off their gas masks and look at each other in shock. None dare speak.

Then, by unspoken agreement, they kneel and respond, "Yes, Your Highness."

Lelouch smiled. "Thank you."

"Are you crazy, Lelouch?" Cornelia says as Lelouch and his new royal guard gets seated in the helicopter. "You can't make them your Guard! Not a single one of them is a Britannian. It'll cause uproar in the Homeland."

Lelouch just smirked in response. "Let it. There's nothing that says non-Britannians can't be a part of a Guard. It's the fault of other princes and princesses that they let their racist pride prevent them from picking non-Britannian guards." Behind him, Lelouch's guard gained a newfound admiration for their prince. After all, few would ever speak up so confidently against the so-called Witch of Britannia.

"Lelouch!" admonished Cornelia, "Don't talk of your brothers and sisters that way!"

"I say it because it's true." Cornelia just glares at him. This is a fight she won't back down from.

Then Hazel comes forth with a compromise. "Lelouch, the issue here is our nationality, not our capabilities, correct?"

Lelouch scoffed, "Of course, nobody can doubt our capabilities after what we've done, why?"

Hazel hesitated before answering. "If that's it, then why don't we just hide our nationalities?"

Cornelia asks, "And how the hell do you propose to do that? Wear masks and hide your identities?"

Hazel shrinks slightly before answering, "Actually that's exactly what I was thinking…"

Lelouch nods, considering the idea. "That's not too bad of an idea, Hazel."

"Lelouch!" Cornelia looks at her half-brother.

Lelouch shrugs. Ignoring his sister, he looks back at the rest of his Guard. "That is, if you guys agree."

Emeka declares proudly, "You don't have to ask us, boss."

Lei nods. "…Sounds like fun."

Rafael shrugs. "Nobody knows me anyhow."

Minoru smiles sheepishly. "…I think it might be cool."

Turning to Hazel, she surprises him with a rare smile. "I suggested it, so of course I'm okay with it."

"Then it's settled." Lelouch signals the pilot to start the helicopter.

"No it isn't…!" Cornelia's protest is muted by the helicopters large rotors.

Two Days Later

Lelouch smiles as he looks at his Guard. They had no idea, but he'd been studying their profiles for a while, which is why he could trust them so easily. After all, he did need to make sure his companions were trustworthy. Non-Britannians who wouldn't report treason yet wouldn't resort to terrorism. And that had enough skill to be useful.

He'd already quietly managed the official transfer of all five of his subordinates to his command. At the moment, all of them sat quietly in the lounge, which was located towards the rear of Cornelia's G-1. Lelouch noted that they still seemed uncomfortable about being as close to him as during the mission. He supposed it was understandable. They had had very little warning that he was a prince. He was simply glad they didn't seem to feel betrayed by his use of an alias.

At that time, Cornelia entered the room. Immediately everyone, including Lelouch, rose in a salute. Cornelia returned it stiffly. She was still irked by the fact that Lelouch had managed to get everything he said he would. Even she had failed her first few battles, so why not Lelouch?

Cornelia was careful not to voice this opinion as she spoke. "Lelouch, it looks like Schneizel spoke to Father on your behalf. You are being allowed to continue as you did with Hamza's fortress. You and your guard will operate as a special unit which ignores regular rank. You are granted access to my supplies. However, you are required to take care of any enemy forces you come in contact with."

"Fair enough."

Cornelia sighed, "My army and I will have to remain here to move the prisoners and set up a garrison. What will you do?"

Lelouch gestures to a set of six gas masks complete with black visors to cover the eyes. They were a standard foot soldier's headgear. "I'm going to find somewhere I can do damage."

"Are you serious? We'll be piloting this lump of metal?" said Rafael. He was walking around the giant tank, inspecting it for faults.

Lelouch smiled. "According to intelligence, Syraval has become a rendezvous for the enemy forces. Therefore, it would be an ideal place to infiltrate the enemy forces." He tapped the sand-colored giant. "And for that, we'll need this."

Minoru was skeptical. "Won't they be suspicious if we wear these foot soldier masks?"

Hazel was the one who answered. "We can just say that we're spies in the Britannian Army. If we say we don't want our identities revealed, they'll probably think it to mean we plan to "infiltrate" the Britannians again. Besides, they'll need every Bamides they can get."

Lelouch nodded. "Exactly." Then he got in the tank. "Come on."

It took Rafael only 15 minutes to find out and explain all the controls. It was practically a miniature G-1. One person handled movement of the legs. This job was given to Lei. It took both Minoru and Rafael to handle all the giant cannons on the giant. A fourth person handled communications and radar. This post was given to Emeka. Lelouch sat on a miniature throne in the center, from which he could see what everybody else did. Hazel stood behind him, with no current job.

Apparently, the lumbering excuse of a knightmare could move fast, when given the chance. Hazel and Lei took shifts in driving the giant forward. After two long days, as the sun stood in the middle of the sky, the city of Syraval came into view.

Or at least what had been the city.

Before the invasion, the city of Syraval had probably been a relatively peaceful place. Now it was surrounded by defenses of every kind. Jeeps, MPG nests, Bamides units, and even artillery were deployed in a wide radius around the city.

He was interrupted from his thinking as their radio came to life. Emeka looked at him. "It's Syraval; they're trying to open a visual communication line."

Lelouch put on his gas mask and his men followed suit. "Let them."

On a monitor in front of him, Lelouch saw an image of an elderly man. The man had graying hair, yet, if his build was any indication, he seemed to be in optimal physical condition. He scowled as he saw the gas masks. "Who are you? Why do you have Britannian masks on?"

Lelouch raised his arms, as if to show that he held no weapons. "My men and I are from Hamza. We managed to escape with a message from him." He gestured at his face. "These masks are because we disguised ourselves as Britannian foot soldiers. In order to prevent our identities from reaching Britannian ears, we'd appreciate if you let us keep them on."

The man stared at Lelouch, as if he was trying to see through the mask. Finally, he took a deep breath. "Very well. Give me the message."

"I can't do that." Lelouch said coolly. "I have orders to deliver it face to face with the leader of this base, in order to prevent eavesdroppers."

"…Very well."

1400 hours

Almost too easy, thought Lelouch as he walked through the city. His gas mask startled many pedestrians, but the military did nothing to stop him. He'd left Rafael, Hazel, and Emeka at their Bamides, in case anything went wrong. As he spoke, Rafael was most likely 'inspecting' the other vehicles in the hanger, making sure that they wouldn't be an obstacle. After that, he was to place a little 'insurance' in one of the other hangers.

Lelouch saw that some people nearby were grabbing the guns they kept at their sides. Lelouch smirked under his gas mask. He wasn't worried. With Lei on his right side and Minoru on his left, Lelouch knew he was as well guarded as he could be.

Presently, they reached a large tent. It was about three times the size of Lelouch's own; with the top about two stories high. He enters the tent, followed by his guards. He looked in front of him. Well, this is a slight dilemma.

Fuck, was the one thing that went through Minoru's mind as he looked in front of him. In the middle was the man from the monitor. That wasn't the worrying part, though.

The worrying part was that that man was flanked by six men on either side of him, pointing their submachine guns at them.

Minoru slowly reached for the gun he kept under his black shirt. He saw Lei do the same. Both of them had hidden at least two guns and daggers under their clothes. It was part of the reason that all three of them were wearing the same clothes from their Hamza operation, despite the heat they absorbed.

"Nice weather we've been having these days." commented Lelouch nonchalantly, as if he didn't see the guns in front of him.

Nice weather, thought Minoru. During the two days in the Bamides, Lelouch had drilled over a dozen codes into everybody's heads. At the time, he had thought it was unnecessary. Now he was grateful that he could take orders without raising suspicion. 'Nice weather' … pretend nothing unusual happened. He saw that Lei had already let her hand drop to her side, weaponless. Minoru did the same.

"It is quite hot and sunny. Makes it odd that you're wearing black. Though, I suppose it's odder that you don't seem surprised about your situation here. Why is that?" the man questioned.

"It's understandable for you to take precautions. I just hope we can all trust your men." Precautions, Minoru thought, open a line to the others. He pretended to readjust his mask and tapped on his mask's mike, automatically connecting to Emeka in the Bamides.

"We can trust them. What I'm more worried about is whether I can trust you."

"You can trust me as long as I'm sure you're the leader here. Give me a demonstration of your authority, and I'll give you Hamza's message."

Back at the Bamides, Emeka paid attention to what the prince had said. Demonstration… Emeka opened a line to Rafael, who was outside. "Lelouch wants a demonstration."

"…Roger that. I'm almost done."

Back at the tent, the elderly man raised his brows. "You doubt that I'm the leader here?" He chuckled. "Then here's a demonstration." He pointed to a soldier on his left. "You there, take off their masks."

"Understood." The soldier slung his gun so that it was by his side, strap on his left soldier. He slowly walked closer.

Lelouch waited until the soldier was more than halfway towards him. Then he said, "I'm afraid that I'm not satisfied at your show of power. I'll need a bigger demonstration."

"What do you mean?"

Back at the Bamides, Rafael ran in, handing a remote to Hazel. "They're in the hanger two buildings over."

Hazel nodded. "Good job. Lelouch just gave another code." She smiled slightly. "He says he's not satisfied with their demonstration."

Not satisfied. T-20 seconds. Rafael smiled. "Well, he'll be satisfied with this, alright."

Back inside the tent, Lelouch calmly continued, "If you force your will on those around you, then you are no better than the corrupt nobility." Corrupt nobility. Attack the moment they've been distracted. Minoru and Lei tense up.

The soldier doesn't seem to notice. Instead, he simply takes a hold of Lelouch's mask. The prince raises his hands to help.

At that instant, for Minoru, time seemed to slow down and speed up at the same time. A violent explosion could be heard in the distance. For a few seconds, all the soldiers are looking towards the source of the noise. A few seconds was all they needed. Lei took out a handgun and fired at the five men standing on the right.

Minoru strikes out with his right hand, snapping the nearby soldier's neck. He then takes the submachine gun and fires in six quick bursts at the remaining six men on the left.

Lelouch, unperturbed, takes off his mask and lets it fall. By the time it hits the floor, all the soldiers lie dead. He walks over a dead soldier, making his way to the gray-haired man.

The man looks slightly comical. Grasping the throne he sat in, he was a pale white, with his eyes bulging slightly in surprise. He looks up to the standing Britannian in front of him. All he can gasp out is, "Please… don't kill me."

Lelouch smiles. "Just do as I say, and I won't." He turns to Lei. "Contact Emeka. Make sure Cornelia's coming. Tell him to report when he's done with his program. And tell Rafael to place some surprises in the hanger next door. Hazel will know where to put them."

"Got it."

1430 hours

"Lelouch," said Lei through her foot soldier's helmet. "Emeka and Rafael are both done."

"Have Emeka run his program."

"Roger that."

A few moments later, speakers and radios alike turn on all around the city. Next to Lelouch, their elderly captive starts shaking as he recognizes his own voice speaking. "Oh my god. Don't tell me… No! No, no, NO!"

Lelouch began to smile slightly, "Indeed. Just like at Hamza's fort. Using my subordinate's program, I can order your forces as if I were you. It'll be your own voice that leads them to defeat."

"You…" gasped the man in fear. "You are a demon! You're the son of Satan!"

Lelouch thought about his father. "You're probably right." Outside, he hears footsteps as the soldiers outside gather in an empty hangar. Slowly, they fade away.

Through a receiver in his ear, Lelouch hears Hazel's voice. "They're all here."

Lelouch takes out a microphone from his black clothing. Through Emeka, it was connected to speakers throughout the city. "This is Lelouch vi Britannia of the Holy Britannian Empire. I've captured your leader, and those of you gathered in the hangers are advised not to move. Not unless you wish to trigger the explosives I've planted throughout the city." That was quite a lie, considering that he had explosives planted in only the hanger, but it was easily believed. "All enemy forces are to throw aside their weapons. The city of Syraval is now under Britannian control."

Encyclopedia Britannica:

The Ambush at Syraval-

Britannian Commander: Lelouch vi Britannia

Middle Eastern Commander: Aarif Majid

Britannian Forces: 6

Middle Eastern Forces: 11,739

Britannian Casualties (killed/injured/captured): 0 (0/0/0)

Middle Eastern Casualties (killed/injured/captured): 11,739 (12/0/11,727)

1600 hours

He did it again, that bastard. Thought Cornelia as she entered the city of Syraval. Everywhere she looked, she saw Britannian soldiers taking prisoners away. Just when I was done cleaning his leftovers from Hamza, he did it again. With five commoners, he took over an entire city. With only a dozen dead, too.

Just then, Cornelia got a call. She listened for two minutes before hanging up.

Damn you, Lelouch, you're going to get yourself killed!

"Hey Lelouch, why did you tell that man, 'You're probably right'?" asked Minoru, voice filtering through his gas mask. They were walking back to their Bamides, where they planned to meet with Hazel, Emeka, and Rafael.

"Is it a lie?" Lelouch replied, startling Minoru. "I consider my father a demon, if not Satan incarnate." Minoru and Lei blinked in surprise behind their masks. That sounded like…

"That sounds like treason?" Lelouch said aloud, voicing his subordinate's thoughts. Slowly, they nodded. Lelouch sighed, "I disapprove of the Britannian Empire as it exists currently. It is far too oppressive towards the weaker members of society." Thinking of Nunnally, he adds, "Being weak in not a crime. Rather, it is a crime on the part of the strong to take advantage of that. If I was emperor, I'd take away the Numbers system, as well as the Nobility."

A Britannian idealist? Isn't that an oxymoron? "If that were to happen, we would help and protect you every step of the way." Minoru found himself saying. He noticed Lei nod in agreement.

Lelouch smiled, "Thank you. Both of you."

"Lelouch!"

Lelouch turned around to see a very annoyed Cornelia marching up to him. "Cornelia, what's the matter?"

Cornelia, followed by Guilford, came to a stop just a few feet from Lelouch. "I've just gotten orders from the Homeland. You're being sent on an operation!"

Lelouch's eyes widened. He was finally getting an actual assignment. "Is that so? Then why are you so annoyed?" Lelouch asked with fake innocence.

He enjoyed watching as Cornelia tried to refrain from sounding childish. "Lelouch, you came to the Middle East less than a week ago, yet now you've completely isolated me from the battlefield."

"But securing prisoners is an important job too." he mused, "Orders are orders, dear sister." Behind him, Minoru and Lei struggled to keep from laughing at the frustrated Cornelia. "Besides, I've been doing well. Why are you angry about that?"

His tone was so innocent that Cornelia couldn't think of an appropriate answer. Meanwhile, he changed the topic. "What's the operation?"

Cornelia was more than slightly eager to respond to a question she could answer. "You'll be attacking a large convoy of Bamides units. You can borrow anything you need from my forces."

"Excellent." Lelouch started grinning. "Then, I'll need a G-1."

Cornelia's jaw dropped, as did Guilford's, Minoru's, and Lei's. "That's it? You'll be fighting over four dozen Bamides units with a G-1?"

"And with my royal guard." Minoru and Lei felt slightly flattered that Lelouch put so much faith in them, but… He's kidding, right? Right?

Cornelia muttered, "You're going to get killed one of these days. You're trying to do the impossible on a regular basis. They're just commoners." Then she sighed as she looked into Lelouch's purple eyes. "You can't be serious."

"I am."

"You're crazy."

No, I'm a son of Satan. As you will find out, dear sister. Lelouch smirked. "Even if I'm crazy, I'm still serious."

Author's Note: Review!