Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass

...

Medically, theoretically, he should be dead. He was well aware of this. He didn't know whether or not his command had allowed him the extra few minutes of life that allowed Sayoko to do a botch job of stitching together his wound. He recalled that she had always treated himself and Nunnally for any injuries that they had gathered, but wasn't aware that her level of skill was decent enough to use the utensils available to seal the gash in his back. He would have to question her at some stage to find out the extent of her abilities and whether or not she would be a good agent for the Black Knights somewhere down the track.

"We should be thankful that you are alive," said Cornelia, rubbing her forehead slightly. Since the procedure she had been enduring what could be described as an intolerable headache that only seemed to get worse the more she tried to think about it, as if the reason it existed was erased from her mind. Maybe she just needed a lie down. Despite that, she still had to figure out what to do with the doctors that had disobeyed a direct order, needless to say that they would wish they had never done such a thing by the time she was done with them.

"Perhaps; perhaps though it would have been the best for the world if Zero had died within the confines of the Britannian Embassy," stated Lelouch as his mind began to work out the possibilities of what lay ahead. Suzaku flinched slightly from his corner as he contemplated what could have happened if Guilford had arrived only seconds after he actually had. His eyes drifted over to where Nunnally sat, the young girl's fingers interlaced with Euphemia's digits; both of them had been shocked severely by the recent event.

"Don't say that," said Cornelia trying to sound assertive but her voice wavered slightly. She had gone all of this time without knowing that her brother and sister were still alive, the entire world still thought that they were dead. All everybody knew was that Britannia had captured Zero. The face was known across the globe, but the name matching the face however was still unknown to the general populace minus those who Lelouch had made friends with over the years. The world wanted him dead, that much was obvious.

A flash lit across her eyes as a plausible idea came into her mind, announcing to the world that Zero had actually died within the Embassy shortly after his man on the inside had tried to save him. It meant that Lelouch would be locked away in social isolation for the rest of his life, but at least that would result in him still being alive. "Cornelia-sama," announced Darlton as he entered the room.

"What is it Darlton?" asked Cornelia breaking her train of thought.

"His highness requests your presence," explained Darlton which forced the princess to her feet. "Also," he continued before Cornelia could head towards the door, "he requests the presence of Lelouch."

In a split second, Lelouch's eyes became menacing. The thought of confronting his father face to face made his blood began to boil as his fingernails began to cut into the skin on his palm. "Nii-san," whispered Nunnally, wondering what was going through her brother's mind. Yet a single thought was running both his mind and the mind of Cornelia, how did their father know about Lelouch being alive?

The sound of Lelouch's chair being pushed across the ground was almost deafening considering that no other noise was made. A slow nod was all the communication that the lone brother had with his elder sister as the two made their way out the door. "Suzaku-san, is nii-san alright?" asked Nunnally turning her head to where she believed her friend stood.

"He'll be fine," said Suzaku in the most comforting voice he could muster. Yet when he watched Lelouch walking just before, his keen eyes were able to pick up the small changes in his walking pattern, showing that the black haired boy was suffering greatly but was doing his best not to vocalise it in front of his sister. Euphemia could quickly pick up on what Suzaku was hinting towards and gave Nunnally's hands a light squeeze which brought a soft smile to the blind girl's face despite the situation at hand.

Out in the hallway was a different matter however, as a painful grunt escaped Lelouch's lips as he leant against the wall for support. Each step caused a world of pain to rush through his body and his sister wasn't blind to the matter. "Please Lelouch, let me help you," she pleaded as she reached for his spare arm which he brushed to the side.

"The first time," said Lelouch through gritted teeth as his gaze bore straight forward, "That I see the emperor since my banishment; I do not wish to be seen as helpless." Cornelia was able to understand the pride within his words as they entered the lounge area, where a large television screen displayed the face of the emperor looking down at them.

"It seems my son has returned," said Charles, his eyes cold and concentrated. "Not only that but he raised his hand against me, the former prince of Britannia, Lelouch vi Britannia. It's been a while, my son."

"In your eyes, I doubt that I am considered your son," stated Lelouch, earning a shrewd look from Cornelia. "More likely I am a mere pawn for you to use at your disposal now."

"For raising you hand against the holy empire, your life became immediately forfeit," said Charles calmly.

"So go ahead, have me killed," said Lelouch, hoping to bear the burden on his own shoulders rather than try and drag Nunnally into the situation. After all, that was the whole reason why they had never reappeared into society, in order to prevent Nunnally from being used as a tool.

"Your life forfeit and your death are not the same thing," said Charles which caused both of his children's eyes to widen.

"Father, what have you planned?" asked Cornelia as she looked up at the screen.

"To kill him now would make a martyr out of him," explained Charles. "Numbers will rise up against us and the turmoil resulting would be devastating. I will not go down in history as the Emperor that conquered the world only to see it burnt to the ground."

"So you would rather the world be burnt by your hand rather than the hands of others," said Lelouch which caused Charles to smirk at his son.

"It seems you still have a vicious tongue on you," said the emperor. "That is good, because it is your tongue that shall quell the blaze before it begins."

"My lord, what will you have Lelouch do?" asked Cornelia.

"Tomorrow he shall speak to the world, in plain sight where his companions would have a chance of rescuing him," said Charles. "In front of his audience, he will speak to the population of his origin, his past and how he was a fool to challenge the might of the empire. You will destroy the hope that you gave the Elevens before begging for forgiveness to those whose lives you and your underlings took along with the thousands of families you crippled. In front of the world, only then will you be publically executed."

Cornelia couldn't help but admire what her father had planned, but as she turned towards Lelouch she could instantly tell that the boy had no such admiration to go along with this plan. She knew he didn't care about his own death, he had said so himself not a minute earlier, but to effectively eradicate all rebellion within the country with a single speech would be cripple him more than any injury ever could. To watch your own organization, and the hope he brought to hundreds of thousands of people, come crashing down by his own voice would destroy him mentally before his body was torn asunder.

"Why would I destroy the rebellion that I helped create?" asked Lelouch. "What prevents me from simply standing out there and allowing some lone vigilante to kill me without saying a word?"

"Because if you do not crush their spirit, then it is not death that you shall receive but life imprisonment, the life that would end however will be Nunnally's."

"You fiend, you would bring Nunnally into this!" shouted Lelouch before covering his mouth in a coughing fit, fresh blood spraying onto his hands.

"It is your choice Lelouch, the continuation of your rebellion, or the life of your sister, which do you deem more important?" With that the transmission was cut as Lelouch dropped to his knees, a mixture of pain and anger forcing his body to collapse momentarily.

"Lelouch," cried Cornelia as she rushed to her brother's side, this time he didn't push her to the side as he grit his teeth together.

"Cornelia," said Lelouch as he lifted his head slightly. "Will you honour your brother's final request?"

"I will," said Cornelia but knew that there was a possibility that honouring the words her brother spoke of would in turn force her to disobey the commands of her father.

"No matter what happens, protect Nunnally," said Lelouch which made Cornelia swallow nervously. She had known that this would have been Lelouch's answer which made her pray that tomorrow her brother chose to obey their father's words. She couldn't tell whether or not Charles was telling the truth about whether or not Nunnally's life would be in danger but it wasn't particularly something she wanted to risk.

"I will do what I can," said Cornelia trying to be as reassuring as possible. "Just promise me you won't do anything stupid."

The silence she received in turn wasn't convincing in any way.

...

Lelouch sat within his cell as the pale moonlight caressed the metal bars that surrounded him, possibility after possibility flowing through his head as he tried to think of anything that could create a benefit out of nothing. One way or another, he knew his life was either going to end or it would not be worth living yet that was not the most dramatic part. He had to be careful, because it was not only his life in danger.

"Nunnally," he whispered softly, knowing that his actions tomorrow would determine the fate of his sister. He wasn't sure whether or not Charles had been serious but nonetheless the threat had been made. He knew he could trust Cornelia to a certain degree but there was only so much that she would be able to accomplish. If Euphemia learnt of this she would beg for the emperor's forgiveness so that the blind girl would be spared. Knowing his father, it was likely that the emperor had some grand scheme in play, one that would likely come to the surface whether or not Lelouch was still breathing in a day's time. Looking out the bared window, he knew he had to make a decision and make it quickly.

"Hmph, look at you," snarled the guard from nearby, watching the pitiful form of Lelouch sprawled on the ground. "Britannia's greatest threat, rendered helpless within the confines of his enemy. I hear that you have to give the world an apology for the actions you've caused tomorrow. You know, if you ask me nicely, I can spare you that pain by killing you now. Taking the head of Zero would make me a hero; I'd be willing to do it anytime of any day."

Lelouch's eyes went wide as a previously unthought-of idea crept into his mind as he turned his head towards the guard, his eye flashing red.

...

Hope you enjoyed.

Peace out.