Hey people! Next chapter up! I want to thank the reviewers for their comments and advises and suggestions. They came in quite handy. I know many of you are expecting Lelouch to appear but our favourite Knight of Justice is still on his way. You all know his physical prowess. It'll take some time for him to arrive. But don't worry. He WILL appear. Just be patient. Also a note, this story may be a little farfetched and may not follow the original storyline so if you see anything weird that about the characters or the events, it's part of a bigger picture.

***

Central Britannia, New England

On board the Lionheart, Flagship of the Third Fleet

Kallen was in the gym in the Lionheart, to train her martial art skills. It seems that was all she had been doing when she had nothing else to do. Clad in only a black sweat shirt and a pair of her Black knight shorts she stood in front of her target: a large brown punching bag. Her bare feet gripped the floor as she lowered her stance, fists raised.

She should have been resting as although the rebels had been defeated, they were still a constant threat. And now that they know the rebels had access to the Energy Wing system and the large Haldron technology it made them more dangerous. The rebel strike force that they had battled had managed to slip pass them again disappearing from them.

Whoever commanded the rebels, he was one slippery snake. Although his brilliant attack had failed, losing over five hundred Knightmares and several dozen cruisers, the remnants had disappeared. Literally disappeared! There was no trace or anything. The closest known rebel held land was Southshire which was in the north meaning it would be impossible to get there in a few days.

New York was another thing. The capture of the ancient city was a complete shock for the loyalists as it had been not only a powerful stronghold but also a strategic point as they could now sent troops into the heart of the Empire.

Yet, despite all of these problems it was that blood-red and silver Vincent that kept on bothering her. No one in the fleet could find its identity or the Knightmare's number and they have tried over six times. But something about it caused her so much interest. It was not the pilot's skills which she agreed were exceptionally great or his usage of such insane tactics but it was in the way he used them and the way he commanded her and the other units… …they were all so familiar…Could…no…did she even dare hope…that he was still alive?

Kallen shook her head violently. No. No matter how she wanted to believe it, Lelouch was dead. She had gone to his funeral saw the body. But yet part of kept on telling her that he was still around.

Confused, she let out all her frustration on the punching bag. She struck again and again, her strong but slender arms giving more power after each blow.

Kallen screamed, delivering each blow, mixed with elbow and knee strikes as well as kicks harder and faster. Though not a real martial artist like Xingke, Todoh or Suzaku, Kallen was a natural fighter and her blows were not just powerful but graceful as well, smoothly going to its target. She could hold on her own against stronger opponents using tactics and speed over them.

But right now Kallen was all content to throw everything she had on this practice dummy. Her vision reddened as frustration turned to anger and rage. Memories started to flow through her mind, the massacres of innocents in Japan, her brother's death, seeing Lelouch's face under Zero's mask for the first time, the betrayal of the Black knights, Lelouch as the Emperor.

"Agrah!" She gathered all her strength and delivered a roundhouse-kick all in one single smooth motion. A loud snap echoed the room, followed by a thud. Sweat flowed down her forehead as Kallen stopped to catch her breath. Her knuckles were red, throbbing with pain despite constant practice. She suddenly felt weak in her legs and sat down on the matt. Although it was just a quick little training, she felt extremely tired. Perhaps from the battle?

She stared at the broken and torn punching bag now lying on the floor. Some of the sand was spilling out. Kallen felt her throat burning and took a sip of water. The icy water cooled her well and she turned to grab her towel and bag.

The sound of chatter came behind in the hallway as a group of Britannian marines came along the corridor. Kallen suddenly wondered what the marines would do seeing she had broken one of their training tools not that she really cared.

Kallen ignored the soldiers who seemed surprised seeing what she did, trying to put on her sandals instead. If they found it amusing or otherwise, they did not say anything and just went along the corridor.

She went back to her room, throwing her bag on her bed and locking the door. Kallen massaged her temples trying to keep herself calm. Feeling that a nice warm bath would change her mood, she took of her sweat shirt and shorts, tossing them in the laundry and entered the bathroom taking off her pants and underwear along the way.

Kallen entered and allowed the warm water to flow down her slim but strong body. She smiled as the water relaxed her. It made her forget about everything else. The only time she could overlook any bad memories or failures was in the shower. She reached a bottle of shampoo and soaked them on her hair.

Here. A voice murmured. Let me help you with that. Kallen felt a pair of hands slowly moving down her hair. The Black knight ace tensed.

Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I would never. She relaxed as the hands went down to massage her neck and shoulders. She felt all the tensions disappeared with the touch. Kallen reached for the hands and pulled them around her smooth naked body.

"I miss you." She purred as she laid her head on his right arm.

I miss you too. Kallen looked over the mirror and saw him wrapping around his arm over her. His jet black hair was plastered to his head by the water. It made him look more attractive.

"Don't go." She pleaded. "Stay with me." Kallen reached for his hand, planting a kiss on it.

He smiled, turning to see the mirror as well as his hands continued to massage her. His lavender eyes were the same as the ones she had saw when she was in the Chinese Federation not the ones when he became the Emperor. His smile was genuine, no sarcasm or anything else.

I wish I could. He replied, and then he turned her around to face him. His slim body was well toned despite his physical weakness. His face was like it was carved by angels. But now is time for you to be back in the reality. The world needs you. He started to fade away.

"Wait! Will I ever see you again?" She tried to grab him but her hands went through him.

The world needs you...He murmured as he disappear in thin air.

Kallen suddenly felt her head jerked. Startled she turned around. She was still in the bathroom alone. Shampoo was still in her hands. She frowned. It was nothing but a dream and sadly put her shampoo on her hair and continued finishing her bath...

***

Somewhere in Britannia

A lone Knightmare in form of a silver-red Vincent flew over a wide forest. The blood-red frames on its armour gleamed in the low sun of noon. Despite the fierceness of the battle, it managed to get pass save for a few scratches from the Percival-Custom.

"Red knight to base. Requesting landing. Code G594915P." After a moment of silence, a voice replied.

"Code Verified. Opening hangers."

The Knightmare dove down like a falcon and landed just before it reached one peak. The ground was far too smooth to be natural though a glance would usually fool anyone. The scarlet mecha stood still as the walls rumbled and opened. The pilot just drove with ease into the hidden base with the doors closing after it.

"Welcome home, Red knight!" A tall blonde man in his early 20s called, as he approached the Knightmare. He wore a white sweat shirt and dark blue pants with knee high boots.

The Knightmare's cockpit opened and the pilot finally appeared, clad in a white and red uniform and a similarly patterned visored helmet. The man literally jumped down and walked towards the newcomer.

The blonde man put his hands on his hips and shook his head at his comrade.

"Honestly, Arthur, why do you need to bother wearing that helmet? Knightmares aren't like jets and you're not going underwater."

"You know why, Anduin." The pilot replied in a muffled voice. "I can't take any chances."

"You and your calculations." Anduin rolled his eyes as he led his friend to the door. The entire cavern revealed to be a military base. Lines of Knightmares rested in their stations with crews working on each of them.

"Nice performance by the way. You gave one hell of a show to the rebels and Her Majesty's forces."

"You know I don't really care about that. All that is important is that the Empress is safe."

In response, the blonde knight laughed.

"Whatever you say, sir." They reached the first security door and Anduin leaned against wall as they waited for the door to open. Anduin noticed something was wrong with his friend.

"Who do you think is behind all these recent attacks?" Anduin asked, his tone losing all of its humour. "I mean it's not just Britannia. Southeast Asia, Africa, hell even Europe!"

"I can't really say. With the war gone, it's the perfect opportunity for some to try and take control. I think the UFN is going to have a hard time." He paused.

"What is it?" Anduin asked frowning.

"The Black knights were there…at New England…"

The blonde's eyes lit up. "Really? That's good to hear. It's good politics too. The Britannian forces and the Black knights fighting a common enemy…"

Arthur however remained silent. Now Anduin was serious for though he could not see his facial expression under the helmet (which was probably why he still wore the bloody thing) Anduin knew Arthur Peregrine long enough to know when his fellow knight wanted to be alone.

"I'll go tell the others you're back." He started. "You know where to find me if you need me." He put a hand on his shoulder and took off into another corridor.

"The meeting's at two by the way!"

Arthur turned to where his friend had gone and frowned. He knew Anduin deserved a better clarification but nevertheless he appreciated his consideration. He would give him a proper explanation later.

The knight walked straight along the hallway and went to his own quarters. He finally reached to take off his visored helm. Arthur took out his box again leaving his helmet on his desk. It was a small computer and as he switched it on. It was a computerised journal of his lord.

A young man with black hair and violet eyes appeared on screen again.

" Arthur Peregrine, your bloodline have served my family loyally since my mother's death and continued to do so after I ascended to the throne. Even after discovering what I did in the past, you still stood by me and I want to express my gratitude to you for your loyalty and the kindness your family had shown to us in the little time we spent in Britannia. I know you do not support this idea but thank you for following nevertheless. Though we've never met face to face, somehow I feel we already know each other." He smiled.

"You are much like Jeremiah in many ways." The man now looked hesitant. "However, there is something else I need to do but I will not have time to finish it. I would have asked Jeremiah but he has suffered much, he deserved a peaceful life after his service."

"I know." Arthur responded woodenly.

"Thus before the Zero Requiem is completed, I must ask of you for one last favour…something that only you could do. After this message there will be a sequence of instructions for you to do…"

The knight just nodded though his eyes were filled with pride.

"Of course, your highness…for by Blood and Honour…I serve…"

***

Purist 3rd Fleet, Somewhere in Britannia

"Where is he!?" Luna Bradley demanded at a pair of stoned face guards clad in green and white uniforms wielding ceremonial rifles though the bayonets were real.

"The Duke is still in the middle of a meeting. He doesn't wish to be disturbed." The guard captain replied calmly.

"I need to see him. Tell him that the House of Bradley is here to see him."

"Bradley?" The captain grimaced. "You don't look dangerous."

"Dangerous enough." She replied opening her ginger coloured cloak slightly revealing a wickedly curved bladed sabre by her side. Some ringing sounds indicated that she had various other weapons.

"Now fetch your master lest your arrogance brings you a swift death."

"The Duke will see no one. And it is you who should watch your manners." The soldier stated firmly.

"A quick one then since I don't really have time." She made a slashing motion and the guards shouted as they dropped down clutching their throats as blood poured from the wound.

Sheathing her weapon, Luna then used one of the dead guard's eye to access to the door-computer. With a hiss the electronic door slid away, revealing a hall way to a large room. The lady of Bradley heard a voice speaking.

"My lord Duke, with all due respect why did we retreat from the battle? We could have at least destroyed the Imperial fleet."

"Yes, Oxbridge. Why did you order the retreat? We could have crushed them." Luna spoke angrily as she joined them, not bothering to wipe the blood on her uniform. Some of the officers looked disapprovingly at her but she ignored them instead focused on Oxbridge.

"We had no choice." The Duke started, his calm was contrast to the anger and frustration of all the nobles around. He was one of the true purebloods coming from one of the old families who had crossed from the British Isles to the New World before it fell to the E.U. fleet under Napoleon. He was a tall man and big but not fat. He had a long pointed face, great red beard and eyes as blue as the sky. His uniform was an old nineteenth century style: white silk breeches tucked into knee long boots, a green-blue coat festooned with gold lace and aiguillettes and, on the coat's broad shoulders, thick white silk cushions hung with short golden chains, like most high ranking nobles would wear. The coat had violet facings and loops of scarlet braid about its turned back cuffs. The man's hat was a bicorne crested with red-dyed feathers held together by a badge of a golden lily. The Duke himself had led the attack on the capital but the destruction of it by the Imperials and the motherless Black knights forced him to flee. Bradley wondered how he was able to get in the ship before her.

"True we could have destroyed the Imperials but then we won't have the strength to fight any counter-attack from Pendragon. It IS the Capital after all and with cannons destroyed, and we won't have the firepower to repel their counter-attack never mind taking it."

Many of the nobles nodded understanding the logic while some took some time to get the idea into their head. The Duke said it simply enough even for their thick arrogant brains. Bradley did not say anything, her anger dissolving in the face of logic. Unlike her brother, she knew when the time to loss herself in a berserker rage was and when to use her head.

"It's that Vincent." Bradley muttered angrily remembering the blood-red Knightmare that stopped her from taking that half-breed's life. "It was because of that unit. I know it. Before it entered the battlefield we had it for the taking."

Everyone remembered the appearance of the unknown Knightmare that entered the field late battle and its presence suddenly stem the tide.

"I don't remember any prototype of the Lancelot to be that fast," said the Earl of Pembroke, a thin man in his forties with a bushy moustache who once served in the Royal Special Corp, now one of the most senior of the Purist Alliance. "There was the Vincent and the Ward but I don't recall one that fast. It had no Energy Wing System either."

"It's not just that. It's also that pilot. I notice it flying around leading different units into battle." One Margrave in a white coat muttered.

"Agreed. Such a skill could only be from an elite unit but what? We would know if it was one of the Rounds. Is there any unit it could be from?"

"Maybe it's from one of the newer ones?" A young Duchess suggested but the white-coat shook his head.

"Our spies would have told us if it was new."

"There was a Knight of the Round in the battle right? The other red one." Pembroke turned to the Margrave who nodded.

"Kallen Stadtfeld. A half-Eleven Black Knight. Captain of Zero's Elite Guard during the war I heard. Now the Empress made her a Round." He paused to spit. "The Knights had gone down the drain since that Eleven Kururugi had become one. Shameful it is. The Empress is now following her brother's path, ruining the pride of Britannia."

"Yes. She's from the same demon blood that flow through Vi Britannia. Their own mother would be ashamed of it."

"Save your personal opinions for later. Right now we must retreat and go north to re-supply and re-arm." Oxbridge poured some wine into his glass. "The House of Perwell and the others are still gathering their forces in the north. Once they meet up with my own House, we'll return in full force. The good thing is that the Imperials don't really know where the rebellions could start and that gives us the advantage."

"We will still have problem facing that Eleven and the other Rounds or that red Vincent." The Duchess warned.

"Don't worry about them. I'll take care of it." Bradley assured her with a vicious smile.

"Alright then. If that is all…" The Duke raised his glass and shouted "All hail Britannia!"

"All hail Britannia!!!" The men mimicked him and raised their own glasses, while Bradley silently sipped her own wine, relishing of the chance to drain the blood of that Eleven and that knight.

***

Ok, chapter done. Well as always please read and review. This chapter isn't my best so I want to apologise. It's just something to fill in the gap between certain events. And I'm very grateful for the reviews and story alerts. It encourages me a lot so thanks!