A/N: A guest posted in a review that there was an inconsistency about Suzaku's rank. My response is that I know that Suzaku is at present a Private but this is foreshadowing to later events.

Inspiration: This story was partially inspired by another story. In this case it's A Blast From the Past by Shadow At Midnight. Check it out if you want to see just how the hell this got up off the ground.

This chapter also deserves some citation to SeerKing's story Code Geass: The Prepared Rebellion V2, mostly in regards to Suzaku's rescue.

Phase 4

Zero Origins

Kallen noticed that Lelouch was currently deep in thought about something and decided to ask him. She asked, "So, what are you thinking about Lelouch?"

"I'm currently busy trying to come up with a name for a masked identity. I imagine that Britannia has an obssession with numbers?"

"Yeah, and from what I know zero is also a number although there isn't an Area Zero for some reason."

"Hmm, there is no Area Zero in Britannia. This is slightly interesting information. I think Zero will be a good name for my masked identity."

Sayoko stepped out of the shadows of the room and said, "I feel the need to have a masked identity for myself so that I can continue to protect you and Lady Nunnally, Goshujin-sama."

"You have protected Nunnally and myself for a long time, Sayoko. Kallen, I believe that the word 'Shīrudo' is Japanese for 'shield,' is it not?" Lelouch replied.

"I think that sounds correct." Kallen answered.

"In that case Sayoko, the name of your masked identity is Shīrudo. Now I'll just need to gather materials for uniforms. I'll need to make a call for that." Lelouch said before pulling his cellphone out and calling a number. When it picked up Lelouch then said, "This is Lelouch Lamperouge, Meltigarde. Have you received the package?"

"Yes, Lelouch. I've been busy getting mourning and funeral wear ready in anticipation for a rush of orders, so I'm afraid that I haven't been able to get much sleep yet. It will take me at least 36 hours to get your order complete when factoring in the workload that I have. Without that, only two hours of my time will be used completing your order and half that time wil be spent making the outfit. Is that satisfactory, Lelouch? Suzaku's court-martial will occur in four days time." Meltigarde replied.

"That's alright, Meltigarde. That gives me time to prepare. Make sure to get a good night's sleep soon. Lelouch Lamperouge out." Lelouch said before ending the call. Kallen then asked, "So who's this Meltigarde fellow?"

"He's the old-looking man who starts my chess matches whenever I ran late to one of them before now. Officially I'm his substitute, but it's effectively the other way around since I drag out the matches to humiliate the Nobility. He runs a costume business and did produce Ashford Academy uniforms for the High School Division. Full name is Meltigarde Ackerman. He was a servant from the Aries Villa seven years ago, but that's all you need to know about him."

"Wait a minute, you said that Meltigarde is old-looking. Does that mean. . ."

"Exactly: He's actually around thirty-one years old, even though he looks like he's in his seventies due to a disguise that he wears day-and-night. You'll learn more about his background after we rescue Suzaku."

A day and a half later, it was almost night-time when a black car entered the Shinjuku Ghetto and dropped off a package in a ruined building. When it left, Yoshida and Kallen arrived and brought it over to a room in the building where Lelouch, Nunnally, and Sayoko were staying in for now. Lelouch checked the package cautiously and after confirming that it had not been tampered with opened it and inspected the outfit within.

It was a black bodysuit that came with a detachable black cape with gold edging. It also had come with a black cloak and a black and indigo helmet that had five spikes on the sides and rear. Lelouch then said, "This is certainly what I contacted Meltigarde for. Kallen, please leave the room."

Kallen left the room and waited as Lelouch got into the outfit that had arrived in the package. When it was over seven minutes later, Kallen heard Lelouch say, "You can come inside, Kallen." Upon entering, Kallen noticed that Lelouch looked very impressive. His face was hidden by the helmet and the bodysuit enveloped most of his body.

"So Kallen, what do you think?" Lelouch asked, his voice sounding mechanical.

"It's rather impressive. By the way, does your helmet have a voice scrambler built into it?" Kallen replied.

"The helmet does use a voice scrambler as an integrated feature. In any case, we need to start formulating a plan to rescue Suzaku Kururugi. His court-martial has been set for two days from now. I know that you offered to help and so did Sayoko, so I think you should pilot a Knightmare. The reason I say this is because a Knightmare, preferably a civilian Knightmare, will be needed for this plan."

"So what is Sayoko going to do?"

"She's going to be driving a replica of Clovis's transport. Sayoko and yourself were the only people who fit the role because Clovis, while he was alive, always had female chauffeurs driving his personal transport. I know that you think it as sexist, but remember that this is Clovis we're talking about. He's a ladies man if his swimsuit designs are any indication. You wouldn't catch Sayoko or Nunnally wearing them though; they're very flattering just like the pilot suits worn by female Britannian Knights."

"So about the Knightmare. . ."

Lelouch grinned under his helmet as he told Kallen the plan.

At the vehicle bay of the Purist Faction base two days later, two soldiers were dragging Suzaku Kururugi to the mobile platform. On top of that platform was Kewell Soresi himself, who felt confident about what would happen tonight. He waited until the soldiers secured Suzaku to the platform with extra bindings before securig a shock collar around the young man's throat. "If you try to speak, the collar will activate and shock you into silence." he said.

Kewell waited for a reply and when he heard none he said, "So you're not bothering to test the device, you stinking monkey!? You Elevens sicken my face! " before turning to the two soldiers and continuing, "You two, fill Suzaku with lead if he even so much as twitches in the general direction of a patriotic Britannian!"

The two soldiers remained silent, but pointed their rifles at Suzaku. Facing downward, Suzaku steeled himself to face the court that would determine if he lived or died. The mobile platform began to move and one of the soldiers shot Suzaku in the left leg presumably because of an itchy trigger finger. The young man did not cry out even though it was painful, and was thankful that the bullet did not nick an artery. If it did, he would bleed to death long before the court could decide his fate. Ten minutes passed and the first group of 'angered citizens' was close by before Kewell heard his radio buzz. "What is it?" he asked.

"Sir, it's Prince Clovis's car. It's approaching the convoy from the front!" the soldier on the other end answered.

"ALL FORCES HALT!" Kewell ordered as he raised his arm. The convoy, made of four Sutherlands including Kewell's own and the mobile platform that Suzaku was secured to, stopped and the soldiers wondered what was going on. The approaching vehicle answered. It looked like Clovis's transport and the Britannian flag covered the entrance to the vehicle. It stopped a few meters from Kewell's Sutherland.

"You DARE defile his highness's transport!? Come out of there at once!" Kewell shouted into his Knightmare's loudspeakers. As if responding, the flag on the front of the car burned away and revealed a single figure.

"People of Britannia. . . I am Zero." the figure said.

"I've seen enough, Zero. This little show you've put on is now over!" Kewell shouted before he got out of his Knightmare's cockpit and shot into the air once with his pistol. Upon doing so, two Sutherlands dropped in from VTOLs flying above the convoy and aimed their Battle Rifles at Zero.

"Before I have my men deal with you, take off your mask!" the Purist demanded.

Zero raised a hand as if to comply, but then snapped his fingers. The back of the vehicle then opened to reveal the bulb-like 'poison gas' canister from Shinjuku.

"You son of a bitch!" Kewell shouted before he began to aim at Zero.

"Do you know what's behind me, Kewell? It's the poison gas that you've been looking for with your buddies. You know what will happen if you miss." Zero admonished.

Kewell knew that this wouldn't end well if the poison gas seeped out. It would risk the lives of the crowd of Britannians gatherened nearby. It even doubled for him as his own life would be at risk. Lowering his weapon, Kewell said reluctantly, "Your demands then, Terrorist!?" spitting out the word terrorist as if it were rotten food.

"I will exchange this device with you for Suzaku Kururugi."

"Impossible! He has been charged with High Treason and regicide for killing a Prince of the Realm! I simply cannot just hand him over like a common ring!"

"You are incorrect, Kewell! Suzaku is no murderer. The one who killed Prince Clovis. . . WAS MYSELF!"

Kewell made a hand signal and the two Sutherlands aimed at Zero. "Would you really condemn yourself and a group of innocent Britannians to death just to get revenge for an unjust Prince!? Kewell, your name will go through the mud once 'Orange' is revealed to the public."

'What the. . . Orange!?' Kewell thought to himself as he approached Zero cautiously.

"In exchange for keeping 'Orange' secret," Lelouch said before the left side of his helemt slid open to reveal his Geass-active left eye, "[You'll do everything in your power to let me leave with Suzaku Kururugi.]"

Kewell felt something overpower his mental defenses as Zero's helmet slid shut. "Very well then." the Purist said. He then ordered the two soldiers on the platform to release Suzaku's bindings. He was lowered to the road and escorted to Zero amidst the confusion.

"How typical. They didn't even want you to be able to defend yourself in court." Zero said before he then shouted, "WE SHALL MEET AGAIN, BRITANNIANS!"

With that, a Glasgow that looked like it had been repaired recently arrived and picked up both Suzaku and Zero while the fake transport fell apart to reveal a black car that immediately sped off. The Glasgow then began to move with its precious human cargo in its hands as Kewell shot to disable the other Sutherlands with his Kngihtmare's Battle Rifle. Another Sutherland arrived and disabled Kewell, forcing him to eject and distracting them from the Glasgow, which escaped in the confusion.