Jerimiah and Villletta were in a bar. Villetta had taken him there to speak to him in private. She had told Jerimiah that she had an informant about their search for the Vi Britanias and that he wanted to meet. Jerimiah had found it strange that she would have information on the siblings. It was also strange that this information came to light after that incident with Kururugi and that upon arrival they were escorted to a private room to wait for their so called informant to arrive.

"So, about this Orange thing... Sorry to bring it up." Villetta said. A vein appeared on Jerimiah's forehead. "Is this whole thing true, though, that you can't remember anything about when Private Suzaku Kururugi was taken?

"I don't expect you to believe me." Jerimiah said.

"It's ok." Villetta said. "They're just blowing things out of proportion."

"They are. I am just grateful that the princess was merciful as to restore my former position." Jerimiah agreed. "By the way Villetta, when is this informant of yours coming?"

When the door opened, Jerimiah froze from who he saw entering the room. Four people had entered: Suzaku Kurrugi, a girl with red hair and blue eyes, another one with light green hair and yellow eyes. The last one made him want to jump from the seat and attack. It was Zero.

"You!" He snarled. He got up from his seat, slammed his fist to the table. The red head tensed up and went in front of the masked man, prepared for a fight.

"Hello Orange, I see that you are still angry. Sorry about last time but you were about to kill my friend." Lelouch had said.

"Orange, Zero, I beseech you, I'm begging you, die!" Jerimiah said. He was in the state he was during the Black Rebellion. He was about to jump the masked man but felt something on his back. Villetta was pointing her pistol at him. There were red rings around her irises. She smirked as if daring Jerimiah to try anything.

"Lord Jerimiah, if you do anything to my master, then I assure you that you will be MIA by tonight." Villetta threatened. Her voice had become ice cold.

"Master? Villetta you've been working for Zero all along?" Jerimiah asked bewildered at the situation. He looked back at the four that had just entered. All of them besides Zero who had a mask on carried a look of unbreakable resolve and loyalty. This reminded him of what Lady Marianne's eyes were like when she was preparing for battle. He may act arrogant for the Purebloods' sake but he was not one to discredit people of their skill. If he tried anything in this situation, he might as well be fighting the rounds. Considering his situation, all he could do was glare at Zero.

"Murderous intent is emanating from you. Your vengefulness is truly top notch, Lord Jerimiah." Lelouch said.

"There's no vengefulness. It's sheer loyalty." Jerimiah said.

"How I hate to hear that. What could the emperor have possibly done to deserve such loyalty?" Lelouch asked rhetorically knowing the answer. This man was not loyal to the empire but to the Vi Britanias. After all this man had helped Lelouch take over the world.

"I have my reasons. I'm resolved to see my loyalty through!" Jerimiah rebutted. "I must know the truth for certain, once and for all!"

"I know." Lelouch said. He took off his mask and smiled at Jerimiah. "I am Lelouch. It is nice to meet you face to face Lord Jeremiah."

"A Britanian? Not even a man yet. "Jerimiah asked in confusion. The boy looked familiar to him. He was too angry and confused to sift through his memories at the moment. He wanted answers. "Why? Lelouch, why did you adopt the role of Zero? Why did you turn against your homeland?"

"I did it because I am Lelouch Vi Britannia. My father, the Britannian emperor, allowed my mother to be killed! And so do it, he stole Nunnally's sight, her legs and our futures from us!" Lelouch said with disdain. No matter whether the past or the future it seemed that his hatred for his father was solidified to his very being. Jerimiah froze. He seemed to be having a mental breakdown. The man was strong so Lelouch continued. "Your first assignment, am I correct? To guard my mother, whom you loved and respected? You failed to follow through with that loyalty. So you founded the Purebloods, then. "

"Lelouch Vi Britania... Everything is becoming clear now. You became Zero for the sake of Lady Marianne, didn't you?" Jerimiah said, coming to his own realization of the chain of events that have happened that has been set in motion so many years ago.

"Yes and no… I will explain that later." Lelouch said. Jeremiah looked at him curious to know what he meant. "Jeremiah Gottwald, listen. Your steadfast loyalty is still desperately needed... Isn't that right?"

"Indeed. Yes, your majesty." Jeremiah said, resolve and meaning coming back to his eyes.

"Then, I have of explaining to do." Lelouch said. He sat down on one of the couches and was followed suit by his entourage.

"Yes, you do." Jeremiah amusingly agreed.

Lelouch explained to him the events of what had happened. He left no detail out knowing that Jerimiah would believe him in any case. He started with the past timeline and what had happened there. He proceeded with the event that caused his meeting with C.C. and him gaining both Geass and contract from her. He told him of what their past relationship was like. He told him about his mother and Anya. What his father and mother were doing. How he took over the world only to die in order to save it. Jeremiah listened to his story intently and was marveling at what had happened. He was being enlightened to what might happen and ordered not to tell anyone about what he has learned. The story continued. He was told of what had transpired in the World of C and what it is that they are trying to achieve. After the the recounting what happened, Jeremiah had a grim expression.

"Kururgi, you lied to me." Jeremiah said. He was glaring at Suzaku and it took all the occupants in the room to calm him down after he jumped from his seat again this time to attack Suzaku.

"Sorry Jeremiah, Suzaku was under my orders not to tell anyone." Lelouch said.

"I understand my lord." He answered.

"Now the question, will you join us?" Lelouch asked.

Jeremiah stayed silent. He was contemplating on what path to take next. He could just as easily return to Lady Marianne. It however would be difficult because she is in the body of the young Alstreim. On the other hand she is planning to put the world into a standstill with the emperor and her son is trying to stop them. He could just as easily join them. They left the bar and went towards the Lamperouge household. Kallen and C.C. we're talking about something inaudible to the others.

"I will let you follow the path you would like Lord Jeremiah. We will take our leave for now and let you think about it." Lelouch said at the door to his house."Before you leave though, I will ask you a question. What is the right thing to do?"

"I do not need time my lord." He answered. "Yes what you are doing, I feel is the right thing. If you would let me, I wish to join you in your mission to destroy Britania."

"Lord Jerimiah, welcome to the team." Lelouch said.

"Yes, your majesty!" Jeremiah answered. A fierce smile appeared on his face. "One question though, why did you let Villetta live? Judging from what you told me she has been nothing but trouble for you. If ever the Geass Canceler would come into existence would she not be a problem?"

"It was my fault. She may be a power hungry but it was my own negligence that made her into a huge obstacle." Lelouch answered. Suzaku, C.C. and Kallen scowled at him knowing the things that Villetta has done. "Which reminds me, Villetta you are to follow the orders of these four."

"Yes master" She answered.

"Good" Kallen said. She looked toward C.C... She gave her a look that said that she was in agreement of what was going to happen next.

"Die!" They said in hatred.

"Yes, mistresses" She said smiling. She pulled out her pistol and placed the barrel on her temple. She pulled the trigger. Blood flew out of the other side of her head and fell to the floor, creating a pool of blood.

"Ok?" Lelouch asked in wonder. "That's a thing. Any reason behind what you did?"

"Yeah, she's a bitch." They both replied angrily. "She's also the means of one of the reasons why you had to die to bring peace."

"I have to agree with them my lord." Jeremiah said stoically. "I am sorry that Villetta had to die but if anything was to happen and she regains her senses, she would be quite troublesome."

"Oh well" Lelouch answered. "I guess it cannot be helped. Not like we can turn back the hands of time."

"I will take care of the body." Jeremiah said. "Please excuse me."

He went somewhere for a few minutes and came back with a huge black bag. He put Villetta's body in it and was off. Kallen and C.C. looked satisfied. Suzaku was apparently indifferent due to the fact that she was unnecessary and troublesome. Sayoko agreed to the other girls' decision.


"What are you waiting for? Come in." Lelouch said. He was in his Zero outfit, and was looking at the security system that was installed.

"Whoa, this place is amazing." Tamaki said. "What the hell is this place?"

"As of now this place would be our hideout." Lelouch answered him.

"So, you think joining up with us is a good idea?" Ohgi asked.

"Yes, we're comrades, after all." Lelouch answered.

"Do you mind if I ask what this place is?" Ohgi asked.

"It's his base underneath Ashford Academy. He also has two mobile bases roaming the city at all times." A blonde girl said answering her question. She was entering the room with Sayoko and C.C.

"Yes thank you Milly, I see that your grandfather has told you where to go." Lelouch said.

"Zero who are they? What is she talking about?" Inoue asked. "She's Britanian but she sounds like she's on our side."

"In your dreams, no Britanian would help elevens like us." Tamaki retorted. "She's probably a spy pretending to know Zero. Let's kill her now."

"Shinichiro Tamaki, do you really think killing one of our intelligence officers would be wise?" Lelouch warned him. "She is also a friend of mine. Do you really want to know what happens to those that hurt those I care for?"

Tamaki cringed. He knows the man is capable of doing the impossible. He thought of what could happen if the fight was actually personal. He could think of at least two things. One being him suddenly disappearing and the other being him getting tortured before being put to death. In either scenario he would be dead.

"Hi Milly" Kallen greeted her.

"Hello Kallen" She replied. A grin that should only belong to a perverted old man appeared on her face. "I see your hogging him to yourself again. Not fair."

"The early bird catches the worm." C.C. answered her locking her arms to Lelouch. Both girls glared at her and tried to gain a position somewhere on the masked teenager to which the Kozuki resistance watched in amusement besides Ohgi who had a vein showing on his forehead at how Kallen is acting. He finally gave up and found and told them to sit down. He faced the others.

"Sorry about that. Like Milly explained earlier this is our base under Ashford Academy. We also have two mobile bases that the Yamato Alliance is stationed to use." He explained. "The Kozuki resistance is primarily stationed on this base as well as Sayoko here for she has a separate mission that I assigned to her."

"Do you mind if I ask how you came by this?" Ohgi asked. "This is a school after all."

In answer to his question, Lelouch removed his mask and showed his face to the resistance. They had a variety of expressions, mostly shock. They were too shocked to realize that the women sitting down had moved.

"A Britanian!" Tamaki said in disgust. "We've been taking orders from a stinking Britanian all along!"

"Who are you?" Ohgi asked in shock.

"Lelouch Vi Britania, the eleventh prince of the Holy Britanian Empire and seventeenth in line to the throne." He said in distaste. Formerly known as the Demon Emperor as well, he continued in his thoughts. "To answer your question, the Ashfords are friends of my late mother so the guardian and principal of the school allowed me to set up a base in the schools underground system."

"You're a prince?" Tamaki said in shock. "Not only a Britanian but also royalty."

"Then if we take you hostage, we might be able to get Japan back." Ohgi exclaimed. After those words left his mouth, he felt something sharp on his throat. Looking around, Kallen had her pouch knife on him and glaring at him. Inoue and Minami had guns pointed at their foreheads by C.C. and Tamaki and Yoshida were pinned to the ground with kunais pointed at their necks by Sayko. Milly was standing at the edge of the room with her hand placed on her forehead while sighing.

"Give me a reason Ohgi." Kallen threatened as she pulled her knife closer to his neck that it started to bleed a little. Her voice was low and her eyes were full of malice.

"Kallen, why?" Ohgi asked wondering why his surrogate sister was doing what she was doing.

"I've already lost someone I love once. " She replied. Tears were starting to fall from her eyes. "I am not going to stand by as I am about to lose another one."

"Kallen, C.C., Sayoko, you can stop now. It is not like they would gain anything from taking me hostage. "Lelouch said; however, they did not release them. "Afterall, we are talking about the man that sent his children to a country as bargaining chips then declares war on said country knowing full well that his children would be caught in the crossfire."

"What do you mean?" The resistance members asked.

"I mean that the emperor cares for no one but himself. He sees his family as nothing more than resources that he can use to further his ambition of conquering the world." He explained.

"You're just using us to off your father and take over the throne." Tamaki talked back. "You're just the same as he is."

"Do not ever compare me to that monster!" Lelouch roared. His stature changed. The pressure that he was emanating was the same as when he was called the demon. It was suffocating. The room was silenced with one glance. The temperature dropped. "That man who said that my mother's murder was old news. That man who tossed aside my sister for becoming blind and crippled. That man who sent his children to a foreign land as tools, only to discard them later for his quest for power. "

"I'm sorry." Ohgi said. He looked ashamed of himself for saying what he did. The others also had looks of shame on their faces.

"Me too" Tamaki said. He looked down to the ground to hide his face.

"It's alright." Lelouch said, regaining his previous composure. "You didn't know."

The meeting continued. The three women holding down the resistance released them. Lelouch continued to explain to them their objectives and resources. They were amazed at the security system that the boy had. They practically had the whole country in their fingertips. It also showed them that to his plans they were not really necessary and he was keeping them because he wanted to.

"There is also one other thing. I have a power called Geass. It is a power that manifest differently for each person depending on what they desire the most. My particular version of it can be called Absolute Obedience for I wish for control of certain aspects of my life." Lelouch said. He looked around. He found C.C. and Kallen giving him disapproving look, Sayoko and Milly not knowing how to take the information and the Kozuki Resistance in confusion and disbelief. "What it does is it compels anyone that I wish to do something once and they will not be able to disobey. The limits of it that I have knowledge of are that it requires eye contact and that it only works once on a target."

"That's impossible." Ohgi said.

"Impossible yet true" Lelouch said.

"Then prove it." Tamaki shouted.

'Poor idiot' Kallen thought.

"Tamaki for the next few days you will shut your big mouth." Lelouch commanded. He activated his Geass and the bird sigil flew from his left eye into Tamaki's. When the man tried to speak, red rings formed around his irises and his mouth closed. He started grunting and making noise. He flailed his arms around angrily at his new found incapability to speak.

"Finally someone shuts him up." Yoshida said.

Tamaki glared at him. He kept trying to speak, only to fail at every attempt. The group tried hard not to laugh but could not help but grin at the man suffering before them. He rushed to Lelouch to attack him but Kallen kicked him in the balls and he fell, rolling around on the ground, crying in silence. Amazed the group looked at Lelouch then a thought suddenly formed in Ohgi's mind.

"How do we know you haven't been used it on us?" He said angrily. "For all we know, you could have Geassed us into doing your bidding."

"You're an idiot Ohgi." Kallen said. She was still glaring at him. "Didn't you just see Tamaki? I guess you weren't really listening to his explanation of his Geass weren't you? Can't you even realize that you are looking him directly in the eyes right now?"

"What do you mean?" Ohgi asked.

"Ohgi, I give you my word that besides Tamaki just now, no one here has been Geassed." Lelouch answered him. "I will not use this power recklessly for if I by mistake make a command I did not mean even as a joke, I could kill someone or start genocide. I will only use it if necessary."

"Ok I will believe you for now." Ohgi said hesitantly. "This is only because Kallen believes you."

"That is fine. Now onto lighter matters, this place is well equipped. We would be using this as our main base." Lelouch said. "This group will be on hired on school grounds as cover. This way there will always be someone here besides Sayoko to respond to anything that might happen. Ohgi because you are a former teacher you have been given the position of a math teacher. Inoue and Minami will be hired as nurses in the infirmary. Yoshida will be hired as a librarian. Tamaki you will be part of my security staff. This will be difficult because there will be discrimination. It will be a test of your resolve."

"Yes sir" They replied in unison.

"Good there are also training simulators here. I want you to train in both knightmare and combat skills. I want us to be ready of any situation." Lelouch said.


"Shirley, Shirley" Milly called to Shirley. The girl was in her own world. Her face was flushed and her eyes were in a daze. She looked like God had just performed a miracle. The blonde bombshell just put her fingers on her forehead and sighed. Looking at the person beside Shirley was the object of their affection. She cannot blame her if she was in this state. It was a miracle in itself that Lelouch had come with them on the train to Lake Kawaguchi. He was usually a recluse because he was always taking care of his sister. Giving up on calling her friend verbally she pulled her hand back and slapped Shirley.

"Ow!" Shirley shouted as she placed her hands to her cheeks. "What the hell was that for?"

"Finally she comes back to earth." Milly said. "I know Lelouch is here but can you at least not drool all over him."

"I am not drooling." She retorted. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

"Now, now, don't be shy." Milly said with a teasing grin. "We can stay up all night talking about the guys we like."

"But isn't that just Lelouch?" Nina asked.

"Not really, it's not like you like Lulu don't you." Shirley said. An overwhelming pressure emanating from her that was saying that if Nina answered wrong she would be dead. All Nina could do was look away and stay silent.

"And you tell me I'm possessive." Milly said glancing at Lelouch.

"Yes you are. Different levels though, I find Shirley to be more of the: if I don't say yes this will become a horror movie." Lelouch replied smirking at Shirley. Her mouth dropped open and could not respond. She made a chibi look on her face with watery eyes and hands connected.

They entered the tunnel. The train turned dark. Nina started making fists with her hands and had a tormented look over her face. Tears were falling from her eyes.

"It's alright Nina. We're here for you. I won't let anything happen to those I care about." He said in a comforting tone while placing his hand over her left hand. Shirley seeing the scene glared at Nina while Milly was looking at the scene with interest and a terrifying smile.

"Yes, but…" Nina said. She was scared of Elevens for reasons unknown. It will be hard for her to accept them as equals for she sees them as oppressors.

"We'll be with you the whole time." Lelouch said as he smiled at the frightened young lady. Her shivering stopped and managed to return a smile.

"Thank you" She said.


In the Black Knights' headquarters underneath Ashford, the core members of the group are going about with their duties. Tamaki and Yoshida were practicing in the simulators under Zero's orders because they are the weakest ones in a knightmare battle. Inoue is sifting through the medical reports from Zero's research team and was finding them amazing on the money and time that was spent on the research.

"Man, first we can't even get our hands on a truck, and then this kid comes along and provides us with weapons, bases, supplies and technology." Inoue said.

"I know right?" Minami responded going through the security system of the settlement. "I can't believe we have feed on almost every part of Japan. Not even the higher ups of the military have that kind of access."

"You said it." Ohgi said. He has rubbing a bandage on his neck. He was trying to think of reasons why Kallen would do such a thing but always arrived to the same conclusion. His phone rang. On the other line was Izumi. "Hello"

"Ohgi turn on the tv. You have to see the news." Izumi said. They turned the screen to the news. C.C., Kallen and Sayoko entered the room. The Japan Liberation Front has taken over talks over the sakuradite. They have taken hostages. It showed many of the people from the talks. Some visitors and the Student Council, the group froze when they saw who was within the group of hostages. It was their leader Lelouch.

"Izumi I'll have to call you back." Ohgi said. He turned to the three that have just entered. "What the hell is he doing there?"

"Well mostly on a field trip that I did not agree on but he went anyway something about having an ominous premonition." C.C. said.

"Wait, he had a bad feeling about it and he still went." Ohgi continued. "Why?"

"I know he's such an idiot." Kallen said. She gritted her teeth.

"It's because he does not like the people he cares about to be caught in the crossfire." C.C. replied. She grabbed her jacket and turned to leave. "Relax, he made a contingency plan if something like this was to ever happen. Everyone let's go."


"I'm Kusakabe of the Japan Liberation Front. This stand we're taking is for the freedom of Japan and our countrymen. Even though you are not soldiers you are still Britannians. You are the ones who rule and oppress us. Sit still, be quiet and you'll be fine. If you don't..." Kusakabe said.

"Lulu" Shirley said while clinging onto Lelouch's jacket.

"Lelouch" Milly called. Their eyes met and a silent question was passed between them. He nodded in response to her call.

Lelouch looked around the room to see a pink haired girl with glasses hiding among the crowd. She was behind two of her guards and looking around to see if anyone had recognized her.


"So what's the plan?" Ohgi asked on the phone. He and some of the members were in a yacht on the docks of the hotel. They used the time when the military was trying to approach the hotel by water to dock unnoticed.

"Here's what he said to do." C.C. replied. She explained the original hotel jacking plan and what they did. She had them ready C4's to target the support beams of the building. "Do you understand?"

"Yes" Ohgi replied.

"Ok get ready." C.C. ordered. "Kallen and I will steal a media van for now and make our way inside using that. Once were inside you can move out and carry out your mission."

"Wait that's impossible, you won't get through the military with a van; especially with what you're wearing right now." Ohgi said. "Cornelia will shoot you on sight."

"No she won't." C.C. replied. "She's confused at the moment."


The military operation went the same as last time. They had sent in their mass produced knightmares only to be shot by the terrorists' linear cannon. Kusakabe and his men retaliated by pushing people of the roof the hotel. They were prepping to send the Lancelot through. They were stopped Cornelia and her guard.

"Well well, we meet again, Zero. Are you a member of the Japan Liberation Front? Or perhaps you intend to help us?" She asked while pulling out her gunblade. There was something off that C.C. noticed. For someone who is threatening to kill you, why is her finger not on the trigger? Lelouch must have done a great job at messing up her mind. She thought. "Regardless, our concerns take priority over yours at the moment. And so for the death of my half-brother Clovis, I shall take my revenge right here."

"Cornelia, which would you choose: Clovis, who is dead, or Euphiemia, who is alive?" Lelouch asked from a recording.

"Ah!" Cornelia cringed.

"It's within my power to save Euphemia for you." Lelouch continued from his recording.

"What do you mean? I have no idea what you're talking about." Cornelia answered,

"I said that I'm able to rescue her." The recording continued.

"Attention all forces let Zero pass. I repeat, let Zero pass." Cornelia ordered.

A grin appeared behind the mask. She turned off the recording and placed the recorder in the pocket of the suit.


The hostages were bunched up in a single room for easier watch. There were three guards, one circling around the hostages like a vulture waiting for the death of its prey.

"An Eleven" Nina said.

"What did you say?" The guard asked in anger. He pointed his gun at her.

"We're not Elevens! We're Japanese! Damn it!" He shouted.

"Yes we're aware of that. Just lay off of her." Milly rebutted.

"Then correct her." He continued. "We are not called Elevens."

"Fine, we'll correct her." Shirley replied, giving the man a glare.

"How dare you speak like that to me? You three, come with me to the next room and I'll teach you a real lesson." The soldier threatened.

"Here I thought that the JLF were all trained to be honorable soldiers." Lelouch taunted. "I guess it only applies to the Miracle Worker Tohdoh, Katase and the Four Holy Swords."

"Why you" The soldier exclaimed as he shifted his aim from Nina to Lelouch.

"Lulu what are you doing?" Shirley asked hysterically. Milly was giving him a disapproving look.

"I guess I was right. You men have no honor." Lelouch said. Now they all had their guns pointing at him.

"Here is a good question to you gentlemen." He continued as he looked at the other two soldiers in the room. "Was your oath as soldiers just for the Japanese or to the people who could not protect themselves?"

"We are protecting the people." A soldier said.

"By taking innocent lives as hostages?" Lelouch asked sarcastically. "What fine guardians you are."

"This is war boy!" One of them said losing his cool. He shot at the ceiling.

"War you say. I think you are having a misconception on who you are supposed to be waging war with." He retorted. "You are at war with Britania not the innocent people who live under it."

"Who are you to talk about our war plans?" He asked angrily.

"An objective observer who was sent to Japan as a bargaining chip before the war started and lived through it." Lelouch said. He thought of a good rouse to get him to Kusakabe. "I am Lelouch Calares, second son of Duke Calares. If you want a bargaining chip for the government then here I am packed and ready."

"You're a duke's son." A soldier said. "No wonder you're so arrogant, bring him the colonel."

"Are you ok Nina? Are you hurt?" Lelouch asked. He gave her a comforting smile.

"Huh? No" She responded. A faint blush appeared on her cheek. She then realized what he has just done. "Lelouch, don't."

The soldiers radioed to their superior to report and get authorization. One of the soldiers pointed his gun to Lelouch's back and nudged him to move towards the exit. The Student Council looked on in horror as their vice president is being escorted to his probable death. Before he left, he turned to look at the pink haired girl in group and winked. The teenage girl looked surprise at the action that was taken by a man who is going to his apparent death but kept quiet. He was led to a conference room in the building. The soldiers knocked on the door and entered with him.

"Sir this is the hostage we radioed about." The soldier said. "He claims to be Duke Calares son."

Kusakabe took a glance at the student. He recognized the young man from somewhere. He pondered for a minute, sifting through his memory looking for that time that he had met the boy. A grin grew on his face.

"You men made a mistake of the identity but you did a good job all the same." Kusakabe said. "Zero let me introduce Lelouch Vi Britania, the eleventh prince of Britania and sixteenth in line for the throne."

Lelouch entered the room and the soldier who brought him left. He walked to the far end of the room so that everyone was in his field of vision. His persona of Zero was taking over.

"May pose a question colonel?" He asked in boredom.

"Of course your highness you are a guest after all." Kusakabe said.

"What exactly do you hope to accomplish by this action?" He asked.

"To gain attention, I want this country and the world to know that the Japanese aren't dead yet." Kusakabe exclaimed.

"How stale" Lelouch declared.

"What? Why you arrogant..."One of the gueards said.

"Explain what you mean by that, your highness." Kusakabe asked.

"Do you really not see the reason why Katase and Tohdoh did not take such actions?" Lelouch asked.

"They are cowards and do not do not rise up to their duty as Japnesee." Kusakabe replied.

"There's no saving you. You people are vain and obsolete." He said. "You do not even realize that the Britanians wanted to have someone to pin someone as the enemy and here you are giving them what they wanted. Quite stupid don't you agree?"

At this Kusakabe had lost his temper, he leapt towards the youth and drew his sword. Zero turned around to not face the boy. His eyes gained a bird like sigil.

"Die!" He said. The men placed the barrel of their riffles in their mouths and fired. Kusakabe committed seppuku. C.C. took off her helmet and passed it to Lelouch. He then opened his coat and took out a parcel from inside. He handed it to her. It had her Black Knights uniform. She began changing.

"You do know I can see you right?" Lelouch asked.

"You've seen more of me than this. Now stop being a prude and start changing." C.C. said. She removed the suit and passed it to Lelouch. She noticed a ring amongst the clothes. It had a princess cut diamond along with two emeralds on the center and was held in place by what seems to be the Geass symbol. There were engravings that 'My witch, my accomplice, my beam of support, and one of my queens'. She smiled at the object and placed it on her finger. She went beside him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "My demon, yes"

After changing they heard a noise outside. People dressed in black came in. They were wearing visors and were armed with M-4 assault rifles. Seeing C.C., they saluted Zero.

"Is the preparations done?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes sir" Yoshida answered.

"Then let's evacuate the civilians." Lelouch ordered.


"What about the cameras in Van 3?" Diethard asked as he shouted to the people on the other line.

"I told you Zero took the van." The man on the other end of the line reasoned.

"Well then, let's hope we pick up a signal from them. What are you doing, Zero? Wasn't that part of your plan... to show us something?" Diethard asked in obsessive admiration. "We've got it. "


"My dear Britannians, have no fear. All of the hostages from the hotel are safe and sound. I, Zero, return them to you unharmed." Zero said.

"Of all the brazen audacity... If we attack you those people will quickly become your hostages, won't they?" Cornelia snarled.

"People! Fear us, or rally behind us as you see fit. We, are the Black Knights." Zero exclaimed."We of the Black Knights stand with all those who have no weapons to wield. Regardless of whether they be Elevens, or Britannians. The Japan Liberation Front cowardly took innocent Britannian civilians hostage, and they mercilessly executed them. It was a wanton and meaningless act, therefore they have been punished."


"You heard me right, I said let it run. Liable? I'll be the one responsible for this." Diethard shouted.


"Just as former Viceroy Clovis was punished for ordering the slaughter of countless unarmed Elevens." Zero said. "We could not stand by and allow such cruelty to be carried out, and so we made him pay for his actions. I will not repudiate battle on a fair and level field, but neither will I tolerate a one-sided massacre of the weak by the strong. The only ones who should kill, are those who are prepared to be killed! Wherever oppressors abuse their power by attacking those who are powerless, we shall appear again. No matter how mighty, how formidable our foe may be."

"Those of you with power, fear us. Those of you without it, rally behind us. We, the Black Knights, shall be the ones who stand in judgment of this world." Zero exclaimed as he gestured his hands to his side.


The next morning, Lelouch went to the mobile truck of the ASEECs unit. He was met by Suzaku and Cecile.

"Good morning Suzaku, Miss Cecile" He said.

"Good morning Lelouch" They both said.

They led him inside the truck. The truck was small and only fit a few people with the Lancelot. Lloyd can be seen on the computer adjusting some programming data for the Lancelot. He noticed the newcomer and gestured him to take a seat. Lelouch and Suzaku entered the truck. The door closed and the truck started moving. Cecile probably thought that it would give them more privacy if no one walked by and heard them.

"Well now, I guiess you are the investor that is interested in my work." Lloyd said. "That's lot of curiosity in someone so young."

"Yes, Earl Asplund" Lelouch said. "Your work holds plenty of potential and room to grow in the right environment and funding. That is why I am here."

"You know that my loyalty is to science and not with people." Lloyd warned.

"That is why exactly I chose you." Lelouch continued. He explained his interest in the work and his thoughts and ideas to the mad scientist. What he said made the scientist give a creepy smile.

"Hmm, very interesting" He said. "Yes I'll do it."

"Lloyd this will be the best decision you've ever made." Lelouch declared with a similar deranged grin. He handed Lloyd a cheque and an ID card for his research facility.


"Your majesty the prisoner has arrived." A guard informed.

"Good, make sure to treat him well." Charles said. He grinned as he looked at the distant cogs. "My errant son, you seem to be doing well. Now, what will be your next move?"