Sorry about the short first chapter, but I never was one for long-ass chapters. This was originally supposed to be two separate chapters, but when I saw how short the Lelouch one was, I said, "Screw it." And combined them.

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LELOUCH

This mask is sweltering…

Taking it off, Lelouch wiped his brow with his sleeve, amazed at the amount of sweat.

"He seemed trustworthy enough."

C.C. was opening a box of Pizza Hut's new stuffed crust pizza.

"I agree. But… it seems odd that he supplied his own Knightmare."

"It does. However, your new Order could use all the help it can get."

"Hm."

He grabbed a slice of pizza.

"That's my pizza…"

"I paid for it."

"Hm."

Lelouch strolled to the window, watching some Black Knights hang around surfing channels on the T.V.

"What is your plan?" asked C.C.

"We need to go about assimilating the JLF."

"Hm."

Silence.

"If you have suspicions, you could always use your Geass."

"You like suggesting that, don't you?"

She sipped her Pepsi.

"What is the phrase? 'Use it or lose it?'"

Lelouch turned and smiled.

"I think I'll wait and see how things turn out."

"Fine."

Lelouch sat back down.

"Well then…"

KALLEN

She didn't know what to think of the newcomer at first. He stood there, staring at her, mouth wide open. It was only after she spoke that he had begun to talk. She shook his hand.

"Kallen Kozuki."

"I, uh, didn't mean to cause any trouble back there…"

By God he's green… "Trust me, it's fine. Tamaki just doesn't know when to shut the hell up. He's a good enough guy when you get to know him, though. So, you just joined, right?"

"Yeah."

"All right then, let me show you around."

"O-okay."

She faked a smile. It really annoyed her how he seemed to stutter. She took him down the hall to an area lined with couches, a table in the middle, and a television in the corner.

"This is the second floor lounge; It's really kinda been reserved for meetings with Zero."

"I see."

"There's one downstairs just like it; there's where most of us relax and watch the news."

They walked down the stairs to an open area almost blindingly white, with gleaming equipment and knightmare parts scattered all over. The one thing standing out was a long couch in the midst of it all.

"If you couldn't already guess, this is Rakshada's lab."

She notice him about to grab a tool.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you."

"Oh! Sorry!"

Unless you want to be castrated, she thought. At least he isn't stuttering…

"And if you go down that way, you'll get to the Knightmare bay."

"Yeah, I had to station my frame there earlier."

He already has a knightmare?

"Say…" he said, "You're the Guren pilot, right?"

She looked at him, surprised. "How'd you know?"

"Lucky guess, I suppose."

She shrugged it off and patted him on the shoulder.

"So long as you don't piss Tamaki off too much, you should be fine."

"Thanks. Oh! Will I be seeing you at Ashford?"

Again, surprised. "How… how did you know I went to Ashford?"

"Another lucky guess?"

Lucky guess, my ass…

"Yeah. But don't call me Kozuki up there. At Ashford it's-"

"Stadtfeld?"

"Damn, you're good!"

"I-I, uh, I looked in the, uh, y-y-yearbook, and recognized you when we met today!"

"Then it wasn't much of a lucky guess, then?"

"W-well, y-you wore your hair differently, and it's a black and white photo…"

"So… what was I in the yearbook?"

"Second-worst attendance."

"Who was worst?"

"Lelouch Lamperouge."

She broke out in laughter.

"I think you'll get along fine here, Goose."

And with that, she left him.