Ch 3-Start of a New Journey

Chairman's Office, Penglai Island

Although it was nightfall in the East, there was a great unrest coming from the HQ of the United Federation of Nations. Since Lelouch's death, Suzaku had taken up the duty as the Defence Officer of the UFN as Zero. However, he was caught in distraught at the ongoing war. Suddenly, out of rage, he banged his fists against the window & shattered the glass. A Japanese girl donning traditional robes of her nation could only watch as the unmasked marauder vent his rage on the glass.

"Kaguya! Tell me why…why must there be more fighting?" yelled Suzaku, "when Lelouch died…there should be peace! But now…the ABC…it's doing what Britannia used to do!"

Kaguya tried to snap him out of it by calling him, but her cousin was too consumed by his ranting of anguish. Eventually, she went up to him & slapped him across the face.

"You won't do any good if you keep wallowing like a baby!" yelled Kaguya, "instead, what you should be doing is to do what Zero should do – get to the bottom of all this!"

"But…the ABC has restricted us from butting in their affairs. It could be difficult to get involved," said Suzaku as he looked at that Zero mask on the table, "…but I once made a promise with a friend…"

He then put on the Zero mask & donned the cape.

"…And that promise is to bring a peaceful & gentle world!" said Suzaku, "Kaguya, I will be leaving for Britannia in the Susanoo pronto. Wish me good luck on my trip."

"And I will do whatever I can to help you," said Kaguya, "and good luck too…"

Outskirts of California City, New Britannia

Despite their aim to save Britannia, Lucian & the 2 females alongside him were still stuck within the ruined city due to the ABC Coalition Army being stationed there. They were trying to find a suitable plan to sneak out of California without the soldiers' suspicions.

For now, they were hiding behind the building rubble near the ABC camp stationed, planning their next move.

"Here's the problem," said C.C., "we must get out of California quickly and head out to Arizona where Pendragon should be & without being noticed."

"Can't we just take them out & run out by force?" suggested Lucian, "I can use my Geass to make them relinquish their machines for us."

"What part of 'without being noticed' do you not understand?" lectured C.C., "if they see us, our plan will be jeopardised very badly!"

"Little lady, what plan of yours you speak of?" inquired a gruff voice behind them, a Japanese soldier raising his rifle at them, "wepons on the ground & hands in the air or your life's sayonara."

As such, they had no choice but to give in. All three of them then raised up their hands high enough to be seen clearly.

"No weapons eh…the girls will make good comforters for us," remarked the soldier, "but the male will have no use for us."

"It's true we bear no arms, but I hold something worth hundredfold your arms," Lucian boasted, "just look at me straight in the eye like the man you are."

"I don't believe you, why would it be with a kid anyways?" wondered the soldier.

"You shall listen & obey my very whim & command!" yelled Lucian as the Geass affected the soldier, "kneel before me & pledge your loyalty!"

The soldier quickly threw his rifle to the ground & got to his knees upon the command, just like an obedience little puppy.

"I pledge my eternal loyalty to the three of you," the soldier chanted.

"Good, start by retrieving a ride for us by any means possible," Lucian instructed as he held up the rifle himself.

"It shall be done," replied the soldier, marching back to the camp.

"Phew, that was close enough," Maria said.

"And we are getting somewhere too," said Lucian, "Pendragon, here we come."

"Don't be too sure; there's no telling what attention this alone could even bring," warned C.C.

ABC Camp, New Britannia

In the ABC Camp, there was a large space in the centre with 2 exits – one facing California & the other facing the next region. Upon that space, large humanoid machines towered the whole area. It was the Knightmare Frame storage area where Knightmare Frames were kept & readied for any possible given missions.

That soldier whom Lucian used his Geass on; he was sneaking around the storage area with a key in his hand. He looked at the Akatsuki, a Japanese model, staring at it intensively. Suddenly, a light beacon from Mera & another group shone on him.

"Hey you, you should be patrolling the perimeters, not here!" yelled Mera, "Return to your original post!"

"…by any means possible…retrieving…ride…" Lucian's command rang in the soldier's head.

However, those words fell on deaf ears as Lucian's Geass command took hold of him. Without warning, he jumped onto the Akatsuki & inserted its key. Suddenly, the machine started up.

"Oh no…that fool is using the Knightmare…" exclaimed Mera, "is this a mutiny?"

Mera & his partners all fired a rain of bullets from their guns to counterattack, despite the Knightmare's obvious advantage. However, the Akatsuki didn't strike back after the assault & the Landspinner propulsion carried it off towards the remnants of California City. Along the way out, it took a small jeep with him too.

"There must be something fishy going on," said Mera, "ready your Knightmare Frames for take-off."

Outskirts of California City, New Britannia

"What's taking that guy so long?" wondered Maria, looking out towards the camp, "…huh? I see something heading this way…it's a…Knightmare Frame!"

"Oh great, now the other troops would be breathing down our necks!" claimed C.C.

"But at least we would be armed with something on their level," said Lucian.

Eventually, the Knightmare Frame stopped right before the group & the soldier dropped the jeep, leaving the Frame & kneeling before them.

"Your vehicles as you had requested," said the soldier, holding up the keys to the 2 machines.

"Good, I'll take the Akatuski," said Lucian, "while you two take the jeep & just drive off. I'll hold them off!"

Both C.C. & Maria hopped on the jeep & began to drive off with C.C. behind the wheel. Also, Lucian quickly got onboard the Akatsuki & looked around to familiarise himself with the system.

"This thing is almost like our Britannia's Sutherlands, what a rip-off!" commented Lucian, "absolutely no kick at all! Let's start up, Akatsuki!"

Once again, the Japanese model moved again. It looked at the ABC soldier, still kneeling in position like a complete idiot oblivious of what he had done. Its machine gun turrets fired a barrage of bullets at the soldier, killing him in the process.

"I am sorry, but if I let you live…you will only die at their hands for treason," said Lucian as the Landspinners of the Akatsuki activated, "so out of this hellhole we go!"

However, as they treaded through the camp by force, they were obviously met with the tremendous force of the Akatsuki's gunfire assault. C.C. tried her best to dodge all the bullets aiming them. Suddenly, a Slash Harken grappled onto an enemy Akatsuki & hoisted it to crash with its comrade, destroying both Knightmares.

"It's Lucian! He came at last!" cried Maria.

"Took him long enough," C.C. said, "what?!"

Another Akatsuki suddenly charged forward & armed its own Katen Yaibatou with its energy blade coming out & ready to slash them. However, Lucian's Akatsuki unleashed another Slash Harken to hold off the attack…and let the girls go scot-free.

"Arg…who are you?" demanded Mera, who was indeed the pilot of that Frame.

"A Britannian who will not tolerate your group's inhumane actions!" responded Lucian.

"…is that so…then perish you Briton scum!" cried Mera as he fired a round of bullets from all over its Frame.

"I have no time for you!" yelled Lucian, "get out of the way!"

His Akatsuki then charged straight towards his enemy's, taking all that damage meanwhile. Then, it also used its own Katen Yaibatou to disable the weapons of the opposing machine without harming the pilot. After which, it sped out of the camp with the jeep.

As C.C. drove past the ABC camp, she could notice someone standing right in front of them. As such, she quickly pulled over. The headlights shone upon him, Colonel Nguyen, and he looked both angry & happy when he saw C.C.

"Nguyen?!" exclaimed C.C.

"C.C., how nice to meet you here after all these years," said Nguyen, holding out his gun, "…and it will be nice of me to do this to you."

"You do recall that I couldn't be killed," retorted C.C.

"True, but seeing you suffer continuously is even better," countered Nguyen as he fired a shot at C.C.'s chest.

"Oh no! C.C.!" exclaimed Maria.

Due to C.C.'s Code, she only needed to take a short moment before awakening. She quickly took the wheel again & drove off again with Lucian's Akatsuki trailing behind as it held off the other Akatsuki.

"Attention, all Knightmare Frame pilots. This is Colonel Nguyen speaking. Do not pursue the jeep & the renegade Akatsuki. I repeat, do not pursue. All Knightmarre Frame pilots, return to Ground Zero. I repeat, all Knightmare Frame pilots to return to Ground Zero now."

With that, all the Akatsuki that were still operational returned to the storage area. Mera got off his own Akatsuki & Colonel Nguyen walked towards him.

"Looks like your Knightmare Frame got pretty banged up by that renegade," noted Nguyen, "we have lost at least 2 Frames due to this. Knightmare Frames don't grow on trees, you know."

"I understand sir," Mera replied, "I am willing to take up any punishment that awaits me."

"Don't say that! I got something for you," said Nguyen as he took out a letter, "this is a letter of recommendation that I would refer to you owning a Custom Model…and I bet you'll like it too."