I looked down at the lifeless body of the green-haired girl. I didn't understand what would convince her to give me this strange power? Did she know that I wanted a revolution after seeing the true face of the Britannian Empire? Did she have some ulterior motive?

My pondering was interrupted by the sound of a Sutherland plowing through a wall. A woman's voice crackled through a speaker:

"You there, what happened? What are you doing here?"

Dammit, Alden, think! I tried to come up with a plausible alibi. The woman in the Sutherland seemed to grow impatient. "Are you stupid? Answer me, or you'll be executed!"

To prove she was completely dead frickin' serious, she fired the Sutherland's rifle over my head. Bullet holes as big around as hubcaps formed in the wall behind me.

Fuck this, it's brainwashing time.

"I demand you exit your Knightmare." I said, the vision in my right eye once again going red. "Who the hell do you think you are, giving me demands?" snarled the woman. Well, fuck, looks like I just broke my new power...no, wait, maybe I needed to make eye contact...

"My name is William Pettengill." I lied. "My dad's a duke. My ID card is in my back pocket. As soon as you verify who I am, I'll request your aid." That did the trick: the cockpit opened and the pilot stepped out. She was a tall woman with tan skin, with long silvery-white hair she kept in a single ponytail, and she seemed to be about 26.

"Keep your hands in the air. I'll check your I.D." commanded the pilot, moving a hand towards the pistol holstered at her waist. A rather cheeky side of me was tempted to hold off on mind controlling her until she was in the process of checking my back pocket. (Hey, I'm a teenage boy, don't judge me.) However, doing so would leave my life up to chance, and my rationality bested my biology. I immediately let my eye go red. "Hand over your gun and your Knightmare." I commanded. "I hear and I obey." replied the woman before she handed me her pistol and the operations key for the Knightmare, telling me the key code. I smiled as I got into the Sutherland.

This was almost child's play.

I had to find an exit route. If anyone found out that I was in this Sutherland, it would be game over. I suddenly remembered the Glasgow girl. Maybe I would fare better if I go her help. I turned on the map display, looking to see where she might be...there! And there were Sutherlands chasing her- not good. I sped off, hoping I'd make it in time, all while testing the communications channels until...ah! The map icon for the Glasgow lit up. I found a perch to put my Sutherland and turned on the receiver.

"You can get to the west entrance if you take the rails!" I barked. The Glasgow Girl did not seem amused by my intrusion. "Who the hell is this?" shouted Miss Glasgow. "How'd you get this frequency?" I clicked my tongue lazily, like a parent unphased by their child's antics. "If you want to win this fight, then simply do as I say." There was silence, then the map icon for the Glasgow began tracing the rails, with the Sutherlands still in pursuit. I interweaved my fingers together and furrowed my brow, trying to think of what to do next.

My thinking was abruptly interrupted when Glasgow told me about the oncoming train. I lunged for the receiver and almost dropped it while fumbling for the call button. "JUMP!" I shouted, my heart attempting to pound out a beat often found in heavy metal songs. I watched from the rooftops as the Glasgow hopped onto the train's roof and ran across its length. Two Sutherlands were tailing her: one was trying to stop the train, the other was about to follow the Glasgow's lead and jump on the train. "Not on my watch..." I mumbled. I hit the button on the triggers and watched the Slash Harkens to swat away the jumping Sutherland. The pilot of the other Sutherland called my radio, demanding my identification.

"This is all the identification I need." was my reply as I fired my Knightmare's rifle at the Britannian. The enemy unit swerved, pulling out its rifle. I was about to dive for cover when the Glasgow came back to charge the Britannian. I let out an enthusiastic whoop as the pilot pre-emptively ejected.

"You saved me." said the Glasgow Girl. "But where'd you get the Sutherland?" I smiled. "Let's just say I'm a very charming individual." If I was correct, Glasgow's friends should be arriving soon. I slipped out of sight and turned the map display on. I was met with a wonderful surprise: the train was full of unused Sutherlands! Booyah.

I quickly began thinking up possible plans of attack, but came up with nothing- I wasn't a planner, I was a do-er. I acted on instinct and reactions; I had gotten lucky with the train. "Glasgow, can you run decoy?" I asked. "Sure..." answered the girl

"Hey, these things have no IMFs!" shouted one of the rebels. "What if this is a trap?" Damn, I hadn't thought of that. Thankfully, another rebel was way ahead of me: "The Britannians have the advantage, they don't need traps."

I was silent; I needed to focus on the map and watch what the enemy was doing. I noticed two Sutherlands approaching our location. "Fire through the left wall, now!" I barked, acting on my instinct. The rebels complied, successfully taking out the enemy units. I breathed a sigh of relief as the pilots ejected from their now-inoperable Knightmares. They were the enemy, but I wanted to avoid getting more blood in my hands if I could help it. Another Sutherland was fast approaching.

"Deploy Slash Harkens, 3 o'clock!"

With that, another enemy Knightmare bit the dust. I grimaced as the Knightmare fell backwards, completely crushing the cockpit. Looking back at the map, I noticed Glasgow had managed to take out two Sutherlands on her own- quite impressive. This girl was an amazing pilot.

Whoever was leading the assault was getting nervous: they were throwing forces at us at fast as they could, only for them to be wiped out as I reacted as necessary. I looked down to notice someone in an Ashford uniform looking for a place to hide from the carnage. Hey, wait a minute- I knew that guy, I was in my class...er, what was his name again? Leonard? Lazarus? Lester?

...oh, right, Lelouch!

I grabbed my communications receiver. "One of you, get the student to safety." I ordered. "B-but he's a Britannian!" protested one of the rebels. "Doesn't matter," I replied. "He's just a bystander, we can't let him get killed in the crossfire." The rebel swore furiously as he pulled up to Lelouch and admitted him into the cockpit of his Sutherland. I looked back to the map and...holy crap, that's a lot of enemy Sutherlands. My brain went into overdrive. I had to come up with a counterattack. Could I get the rebels to a hiding spot? No, that wasn't even a viable option...the enemy was moving in too fast.

An idea struck me like lightning- it was crazy, it was borderline insane, but it was our only hope. "Spread out!" I commanded, my fingers crossed in desperate hope. The enemy Sutherlands arrived just as the rebels got into position.

Here's hoping all those lazy summer afternoons spent playing old-school shooter games paid off...

"Alright, begin firing! Encircle the enemy and whatever you do, do not stop moving." The rebels hit hard and fast, circle-strafing the enemy Sutherlands. The Britannians didn't stand a chance. I chuckled to myself. I couldn't believe that had actually worked- my luck was holding out.

"What on Earth is tha- GYAH!"

Eh? I looked back to the map- one of the rebels just lost their Sutherland. "Status report, now!" I barked. "I'm alright, and so's the Britannian kid...some white-colored Knightmare came at me from nowhere and beat the shit outta my Sutherland."

"I'll pick up the student." I replied, frowning at the sudden turn of events. "Everyone else, group up and find that white Knightmare: I want it gone NOW!" The rebels banded together and began sweeping the alleys and streets for signs of our surprise visitor. I drove up to Lelouch and opened the cockpit. "Get in."

"A-Alden?" gasped Lelouch. "What are you doing here?" I chuckled. "I could ask you the same...we need to get out of the Ghetto as soon as possible. Can you keep this a secret?" I didn't want to use my power on Lelouch at the moment. Lelouch nodded. I tightly gripped the controls of the Sutherland and hoped the others had taken care of that Knightmare.

"Gyaaaah!" A couple of screaming Knightmares crushed that hope as their map icons on the map blinked out. Things had taken a turn for the worst.

I decided it would be wise to find higher ground and try to spot the mystery unit was. I moved the Sutherland up into a ruined skyscraper. However, as I tried to find the enemy, the sound of a Slash Harken digging into the side of the building announced the fact that the enemy had found me. As the Slash Harken pulled up the Knightmare, I finally got a good look at what was tearing us to pieces: it was a admittedly majestic-looking Knightmare, colored white and gold. It's shape gave off the impression of a noble warrior. I could hear Lelouch grinding his teeth together as he crouched behind the cockpit chair. I aimed the Sutherland's rifle and fired. In response, the white Knightmare raised its arm as a green, diamond-shaped translucent barrier formed on its forearm, deflecting the bullets.

…

Well that's just not fair.

The Knightmare shot a Slash Harken a me, and alarms buzzed in the cockpit as the Sutherland's arm was torn off.

"We need to get out of here!" yelled Lelouch. I grimaced as I watched the white Knightmare level its rifle at us. I shut one eye, bracing for the worst...

There was a terrific crash as the Glasgow returned, plowing through a wall and tackling the enemy Knightmare. I swear, I am going to send that girl roses if we get out of here alive. I could hear the white Knightmare's pilot speaking through a speaker. "By Prince Clovis' orders, I will defeat you!"

That got a reaction out of Lelouch. "Clovis is here?!" I turned to give him a puzzled look. "Uh...I would assume so." Lelouch seemed positively furious. "That swine..." he muttered.

Glasgow and the white Knightmare were duking it out as I looked down at the floor and noticed some ominous-looking cracks were starting to form beneath them. I dived for the communications receiver. "Glasgow, fire the Slash Harkens at the ceiling!" I barked, panicked. The girl seemed to trust me enough to follow through with the order immediately. She got the Glasgow of the floor just as it gave way, taking the white Knightmare down with it. "You saved me again..." said the girl, addressing me over the radio. I smiled. "It was just the right thing to do...think nothing of it."

A Slash Harken shot up, bringing with it the white Knightmare, now missing an arm. The Knightmare launched itself at me, brandishing a rifle. I slammed the controls and backed the Sutherland as fast as it would go as I boldly dived out the side of the building to make my escape.

…

Alright, alright, I wasn't looking where I was going and fell out of the building. Geez...

I used the Slash Harkens to grab onto a ledge and slammed the Sutherland's feet against the side of the tower. There was an ear-splitting grinding noise as the Sutherland slowed to a halt halfway down. Me and Lelouch both sighed in relief.

The Glasgow and the white Knightmare apparently thought that I was having a party on the side of the building and decided to try crashing it, much to my chagrin. I decided to risk my own neck and detached one of the Harkens from the ledge and used it to catch the Glasgow. The Sutherland shifted as the weight of the Glasgow threatened to sever the Harken now holding two Knightmare frames three stories above ground. I quickly began to extend the cable. This was the third time I've saved the Glasgow Girl...I really hope she doesn't think she's being a burden.

The white Knightmare plummeted downward, landing on its feet. How was that even possible? Was the pilot a freakin' cat!? I zipped away from the white Knightmare, as did the Glasgow- we weren't retreating, we were advancing in a different direction. The white Knightmare was in hot pursuit, aiming its gun at me. I think the pilot had a serious bone to pick with me. There was a rumbling sound, and I turned my head to see a building collapsing...and a woman who was falling out of the crumbling structure. I turned the Sutherland, getting ready to fire...only to see the white Knightmare was busy rescuing the woman from an otherwise certain demise. I couldn't help but respect that. You win this time, White Knight. "Disengage." I said, addressing the Glasgow Girl.

"...Understood." she replied, sounding a bit hesitant. I furrowed my brow in thought. If Clovis was here, that meant it was likely him that ordered the decimation of the Shinjuku Ghetto. I gritted my teeth as anger washed over me. Ever fiber of my being wanted to find whatever mobile base he was holed up in and blow it to bits. But only me and Glasgow Girl were left, Lelouch was in the cockpit, and the other rebels were still in danger. I contacted the Glasgow:

"Go regroup with your comrades and get them to safety." I commanded. "What are you going to do?" asked the Glasgow Girl. (Note to self: find out what her real name was.)

"Something foolish." I answered. "Now go!" I sped off before she could object. looking for the ever-familiar deep violet shape of a Royal Britannian Mobile Base. Lelouch didn't seem too happy with what I was doing. "What are you trying to pull!?" he shouted. "I thought you said we had to get out of Shinjuku!"

"I've got 'swine' to attend to." I explained. Lelouch's face paled as he understood what I was talking about. "Are you insane!?" "Possibly."

At last, the mobile base was in my sight. Opening the cockpit, I mentally prepared myself. I would have to utilize my powers to their fullest if I was going to make this admittedly stupid plan work. If I made even the slightest, and it would all fall apart...

"Let me go with you."

I'm sorry, did I hear that right? I turned to face Lelouch. "What? You just called me insane for trying this, why do you suddenly want to join me?"

"It's personal." replied Lelouch. I was hesitant: what business did Lelouch Lamperouge have with Prince Clovis?

I sighed. I got the feeling that Lelouch wasn't about to take 'no' for an answer. "...fine. But you're responsible for your own hide out here. Just wait here a sec."

A hundred and twenty 'secs' later and two brainwashed guards later, I returned to Lelouch and I threw him a soldier's uniform, I had already put mine on. "We're going incognito."

It took a bit of finesse to time our path to the Prince's room, but much to my delight, we made it there without incident.

We walked in, and Clovis (the little priss) smiled. "Has the operation been finished?" he asked. I drew the pistol I'd taken off the woman I'd gotten my Sutherland from. "Not quite." I chuckled, removing my helmet. Lelouch did the same, and Clovis suddenly smiled. Oh hell, did I just walk into a trap!?

"I thought you had died when we brought Area 11 into the fold!" gasped Clovis happily, looking at Lelouch. "It's been a long time, hasn't it, brother?"

Oh good, it wasn't a...

Wait...

BROTHER!?