A/N: I had hoped for a little more feedback for the last chapter especially on that space battle, but thanks to the reviewer Reader I am going to look up the recommended site and try to see about improving my future space battles when I get to them in the coming chapters.

With that said I want to thank those who reviewed and favorite the story as I appreciate the feedback a lot.

This chapter deals with the aftermath of Lelouch's actions in the last chapter while also learns some concerning facts while needing to plan his next moves because what happens next is going to change the game.

Without delay on with the chapter.


Chapter 9

The Calm before the Storm

Lelouch sat in his office waiting for C.C. to contact him, but ever since the incident with the girl Lelouch has been in deep thought processing events that had transpired while suspecting there was more about what had happened within Compact before its transition into PACT that the green-haired immortal had neglected to tell him. The doctor aboard the ship had conducted a more in-depth examination while she was unconscious and found that his suspicions that her body was indeed genetically designed and modified heavily to be superior to humans in every way while her mind especially was heavily augmented through extensive genetic engineering.

No place would have had that kind of technology except for the same place where the technology to bring him back had come from.

She has lapsed into what the doctor called a temporary coma showing signs she'll awaken, Lelouch thought while recalling his conversation with the doctor after the captive had passed out following her episode. Taking her words and comments into account, Lelouch realized what had likely happened. Whoever is in charge over them recognized the danger my Geass represented so she cut her off from the rest and presumably has wiped out some of her memories if not all of them to keep me from learning about their plans.

This presented another worrying problem as Lelouch had to accept the likely possibility Arcadius and PACT were aware of his Geass. He knew C.C. and Jeremiah alongside Suzaku were part of Compact, but he didn't see C.C. as the type telling people about him and his Geass.

Although there might be one person, she could have told.

Lelouch concluded that the only one who might have known was Nunnally's daughter and possibly whatever child she might have had. Before contemplating the matter even further Lelouch got the alert that he was receiving a coded transmission on the FTL transmitter, but to his annoyance, it wasn't C.C., but it was a call he couldn't ignore either.

Pushing a button and seeing no need for his mask Lelouch watched as the holographic avatar of Admiral Grey of the Solar Alliance materialized before him. It wasn't their first meeting as C.C. and Garibaldi introduced him weeks after reuniting with Lloyd and Jeremiah, but despite Grey being one of his biggest supporters in rebuilding the Black Knights he nevertheless remained wary of the man.

"Greetings Admiral I assume you are calling about the information you have received from Jeremiah?" Lelouch said politely knowing what the admiral was likely calling about.

"Yes, and I have to say good work. With the information, we have a list of traitors and collaborators who are tied to the pirates and PACT that he has been dealing with but rest assured we will take care of them on our end. But once again excellent work," Grey complimented with a smile before adding, "not only with this information you retrieved but for dealing with Captain Kidd. He has eluded us for a long time, although I would have preferred he could've been able to stand trial in Alliance space I am willing to accept his demise all the same."

"I don't doubt that," Lelouch said rationally knowing Kidd's reputation with the alliance, "however I fear we'll have little time before PACT begins its invasion of the Neutral Rim."

"What convinces you of that?"

"I don't know if Jeremiah told you, but after we finished off Kidd and proceeded to mop up the rest of his fleet, we were attacked by a PACT Ryder sent to engage us as a means of testing our effectiveness. Arcadius wasn't convinced that Kidd could defeat us, so I suspect he was being tailed by the Ryder." Lelouch explained causing the aged Alliance admiral to raise an eyebrow before asking.

"Just one Ryder?"

"It wasn't like any known Ryder we have seen from the files we have on the machines used by Compact or the New Empire, and even after its transformation into PACT there was nothing on this machine."

"A new model?"

"Most likely and it killed some of my men before I was able to defeat it thanks to some tactics and setting it up. Its combat performance and its pilot were very formidable, but I guess it was thanks to having faced a similar situation years ago I knew how to best react to the situation." Lelouch explained as he remembered the battle in Shinjuku Ghetto too well, which he contributed in using his experience of that battle to help him avoid a potential repeat of it during his fight against the PACT machine. "I'll follow you a copy of the battle footage and the data we collected on the unit so far."

"That would be much appreciated," Grey said nodding his head in appreciation before asking, "Did you capture the pilot?"

"Yes, although that one presents a worrying complication. Our doctor examined her and found that she has been genetically engineered to be…well…far better than your average human to sum it up."

"PACT is producing genetically engineered pilots?"

The aged admiral was understandably alarmed by this bit of news, but Lelouch doubted that PACT would be capable of such a feat considering the state the New Empire was in when Compact overthrew it before its transformation into PACT.

"I don't doubt they probably have more of them, but I suspect a third party is producing these beings for them since considering the resources PACT had at the time they overthrew the New Empire I can't see them or the New Empire having the means to create such beings." Lelouch reasoned logically using the evidence on hand as he knows that much of PACT's military expansion was dependant on creating new technologies and cost-cutting measures to aggressively expand and build up their military.

Admiral Grey considered this a moment before nodding sagely in agreement with Lelouch, "I believe you might be right about a third party involved as I cannot even think of any place in Alliance Space capable of genetically engineering a human for combat."

"Agreed, but I'll try to see what I can get out of the pilot once she wakes up. However, I am not expecting much on that front even with my Geass."

"You think she might not possess much useful information?"

"Not quite, but the report I'll be sending you along with a copy of our examination and notes our doctor made when after checking out the prisoner will provide you with a better idea. I don't quite fully understand it myself, but considering my experiences with C.C. and Geass, I am keeping an open mind and not taking any chances."

"I see," Grey said clearly curious at the details of the report he would receive from Zero, "I'll contact you again later I hope your interrogation goes well."

"Thank you, Admiral…" Lelouch said as Grey ended his transmission.

Not long after that, a beep from Lelouch's desk alerted him to an intercom call from the brig.

"What is it?"

"The prisoner is awake sir."

"I am on my way!"


In another corner of the Neutral Rim, the group of Black Knights under Jeremiah's command had landed at Tydaria to rendezvous and pay their mercenary her dues for her part in the operation. For Icari this was probably the most credits she had ever collected for a job as she had more than enough to likely retire on if she chose. Unfortunately, she declined to join the Black Knights for now preferring her freelancer lifestyle as a mercenary. However, she did promise she would gladly help the Black Knights with any future jobs that pay her well and hits PACT where it hurts.

"Are you sure you will not be joining us Miss Isidolde?" Jeremiah inquired, although her personality was a little on the rough side her combat skills were nothing to scoff at.

"Nah I got plenty of work, and all of it lets me keep hitting PACT where it hurts, but if you guys got another job that can let me do some damage to PACT, then I'll be more than happy to help. Tell Zero he can call me any time if he has a good job for me." Icari replied with a smug smile as she oversaw the transfer of credits into her account from her holo she wore on her wrist.

"I have no doubt Zero will contact you should we require your services again. You are more skilled as a fighter than even your reputation suggested."

Her cocky smile grew bigger as she added, "Well I was glad to have exceeded expectations. I'll see you guys around!"

After Icari left the hanger waving to the Black Knights while walking away, Jeremiah was approached by Lloyd.

"So when can we head back I got some shopping to do because I got some overdue projects to finish," Lloyd exclaimed excitingly as he was apparently eager to return to base after his upcoming shopping spree, which only caused Jeremiah to groan in annoyance.

"As long as you don't take forever browsing over parts Lloyd because I wish to return to his side as soon as possible."


Back aboard his ship Lelouch wearing the mask and attire of Zero entered the brig where L7NN had been moved into their much more high-security cell reserved for dangerous prisoners as a precaution. He even assigned two additional guards and gave them orders to kill her should she attempt to escape her cell.

"I see you are awake now…" Lelouch greeted calmly as L7NN noticed his presence glaring at him with raw anger in her blue eyes.

"You…because of you I have been cut off!" L7NN snapped as she balled her hands into fist resisting the urge to begin pounding the glass in anger.

"I peg your pardon?"

"Something about your Geass caused her to panic upon seeing it through my eyes, so she cut me off while removing some of my memories in the process."

As I thought, Lelouch thought as this confirmed his suspicions, but this means I may not be able to learn much…still…

"Well you seem to have retained some memory, but how much I…let's find out," Lelouch said with a sinister tone to his words as he revealed his Geass eye, "answer my questions."

L7NN didn't have a chance to react, and before she realized it, she was ensnared by Lelouch's Geass as she became more obedient in seconds.

That confirms my Geass can work on them.

"I will answer your questions…" L7NN said in a semi hypnotic-like state.

"What are you exactly?"

"My sisters and I are called Prototypes. We are beings that were artificially created and designed to be superior to humans in every way after many experiments in enhancing and engineering human DNA beyond its limits to create a new superior breed of humanity."

"How many of you are there?"

"Many of us…I don't know the exact number but over a hundred." L7NN replied as Lelouch began swearing at the thought that a small army of these advance genetically engineered beings existed.

"How were you created? What is your history?"

"The first of us was created and raised as a child as part of Stage One of our development, but the rest of my sisters and I are part of Stage Two. We are mass-produced through cloning that was developed as an alternative to raising each of us individually from infancy like the first of us from whom we are based from, and Stage Three introduced the Alpha who was made to be superior to all of us and the final product."

"I see, so who or what is the Alpha?"

"She was the one made superior to us and is the core of the Mindstream from which all of our minds are connected alongside her sister who was the first of us."

"Who is this sister of the Alpha? The first one you keep mentioning?"

L7NN was unable to answer that question until she offered.

"You must ask the Alpha for that information about the identity of her sister has been erased."

I see, so it was the first Prototype created who cut her off and erased parts of her memory to hide her identity.

"Where is the Alpha or has that information been erased from your mind as well?"

"Yes, that information has also been erased from my memories when I was disconnected from the Mindstream."

Lelouch, wasn't the least bit surprised by this before he asked, "Then tell me do you know where your sister the first one of your kind is then?"

L7NN didn't answer, but she didn't know the answer.

"Who created the Prototypes?"

The Prototype was unable to answer because it seemed that information had been erased as well.

Probably to prevent me from tracking down their leaders if I knew who created them.

"How did you know about Geass?"

"The first of us knew because the one before the current Arcadius possessed one given to him by the woman known as C.C. We suspected you had one, but we knew not its capabilities. However the first of us suspected what power it was."

The former Emperor's eyes narrowed before realizing one of the objectives Arcadius and PACT had for this battle, "So studying the strength and capabilities of my forces was just stage one. In the event of capture, you were to learn as much about me and determine if I really had a Geass or not?"

"Yes and if possible use my link to the Mindstream to lead our sisters to your base."

"I see, but tell me could your connection be restored?"

"Possibly, but I would need the help of one of my other sisters to do so to regain access."

I see so they were afraid I would use her as a means of putting the Prototypes under the influence of my Geass through their shared hive mind-like connection. They didn't want to risk it leading me to them, so they cut her off and erased some of her memories to hide critical information I could have used against them.

This caused Lelouch to wonder about the reason why didn't the Prototypes just wipe out her mind completely? Was it impossible for them or was there some alternate motive behind allowing her to keep the rest of her mind and memories intact other than selective memories being erased.

"Who built that machine you piloted against us?"

"Our sisters did through the assistance of PACT who provided the resources to do so in conjunction with our own."

"Was it given some kind of long-range tracking device to trace my movements in the event of your capture?"

"No, because we believed you would have likely checked the machine or scrapped it out of fear of such a possibility."

Best if we dump the machine anyway after our engineers finish examining what is left of it just to be safe. They just might have not told her that or just kept such information from her. Lelouch thought taking into account what he was dealing with now it was best not to risk it. In hindsight, it was a good idea on his part that he ordered the techs to keep their findings on isolated terminals to protect against infiltrations from viruses.

"What is your relationship with PACT?"

"We are mere extensions of the first."

"I see, so you are involved or closely associated with Arcadius then." Lelouch thought while deciding to accept that as an explanation for now until he could find out more. Lelouch closed his Geass eye allowing the Geass power to fade from L7NN before the Prototype regained her senses and composure.

"What…what just happened?"

"That was my Geass, and you answered all of my questions."

"You…did what to me?" L7NN said as her voice was trembling, which was because after she blacked out, she couldn't remember what questions Lelouch had asked her.

"Yes and that is why parts of your mind saw information erased from it, although it's sad through," Lelouch said stepping closer as he adopted a mocking tone. "For a being supposedly superior to humans you were not only beaten by one, but you were cast out once they realized you were more of a hindrance and a liability."

As Lelouch expected L7NN looked at him with raw anger in her eyes, which wasn't just because Lelouch was the one who had beaten her but the Prototype felt betrayed and abandoned by her sisters which were feelings the masked man hoped to fan.

"JUST KILL ME AND GET IT OVER WITH!" L7NN snapped launching herself at the glass slamming a fist on it, which prompted the guards to ready their weapons but a gesture from Lelouch prompted them to lower them.

"You are my prisoner, and you have more value to me alive than dead. Even though I have gotten as much information out of you as possible, I believe in time I could find other uses for you." Lelouch thought as he logically came to the conclusion that if PACT did indeed have a small army of beings like L7NN and advance Ryders which could also mean other secret weapons they may not even be aware of he would need whatever advantage he could get now.

It's a long shot, but L7NN is arrogant and proud of her status as a Prototype. I can't imagine she took being abandoned by her so-called sisters very well, Lelouch thought before he realized something, Or the fact, in the end, she is just an expendable pawn.

"Besides wasn't that your role in all of this?" Lelouch said deciding to verbally go in for the kill using the truth. "To be sent alone against a force possessing unknown machines and ships you had little information. I would say you were expected to lose despite your claims otherwise and then just used to lead your sisters to my base where chances of you being recovered were zero as I would make sure you were killed for that before we fell."

"We're superior to you…we're superior to you," L7NN said trying to deny the truth Lelouch was making apparently to her. However, the way her eyes were twitching and how she tried to desperately cover her ears to ignore whatever else Lelouch would say was enough to tell the masked man that he was getting to her.

"Well, you are in a cage abandoned by your so-called sisters whom I am sure they have cloned a replacement already. Only further proving you are both expendable and easy to replace, so how are you more superior to us when you are so easy to replace?"

"SHUT UP!" L7NN screamed before pounding away at the glass, but nothing she did cause her prison to budge. "SHUT UP!"

"You see…compared to a simple execution with a bullet to the head there is nothing more painful and devastating in this universe than the truth."

Smiling triumphantly under his mask Lelouch proceeded to walk away, but not before saying, "we'll continue this talk some other time."

The guards looked at Lelouch in awe as he managed to get under the Prototype's skin so easily who was left in a shivering wreck now curled up in one corner of the cell she was in knowing she couldn't escape. Some of them might have preferred she be executed, but they saw the truth in her words as killing her would be merciful compared to the harsh reality he had forced her to recognize.

"What…just what are you?" L7NN demanded before Lelouch was about to leave the brig.

"I am a Demon of Justice who came back from the depths of hell," Lelouch replied without turning around but left L7NN alone with her guards after speaking those words.


Meanwhile, word was already spreading like wildfire that Captain Kidd and his Pirate Fleet had destroyed by Zero at the Luarica Asteroid Belt, although many were skeptical of such a claim. But after an investigation conducted by local military and law enforcement from Ryuvia Prime and nearby worlds, they confirmed wreckage of not only Captain Kidd's ship, but the debris of vessels belonging to other notorious pirates who had joined him to form his fleet.

It would be weeks before they could have an accurate count of how many of the Neutral Rim's most notorious pirates had been wiped out considering the explicit use of nuclear weapons Zero had used, but the numbers of those who had been slain were already considerable. So while news outlets across the galaxy were spreading the word of Zero's incredible feat and planetary governments were holding their own debates about the matter and how they should regard Zero.

There was a significant power vacuum every pirate was trying to fill now.

One such pirate was Cosette Cosmos.

She was feeling justified that Captain Kidd's fleet was going to meet its end and the news of its destruction didn't surprise her much, because it was not in the fashion she had expected to. She suspected that Kidd might have used the hunt for Zero as a means of killing off rivals and enemies which could have included her, but Cosette had wisely kept her distance from the now former pirate king. With other pirate groups now fighting over whom will claim the position as new top pirate Cosette was already dealing with one of her rivals who had formerly been allied with Captain Kidd.

With his demise, however…the unfortunate man found himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun held up to his face.

"You know someone better pick up that phone because I fucking called it. I knew Kidd's little hunt for Zero was going to go belly up, but I thought it would be more from backstabbing than Zero wiping them out." Cosette said with a maniacal smile on her face as the terrified man had no hope of escaping as he was held fast to the wall of his own ship by two of Cosette's thugs.

"Please, Cosette it wasn't anything personal?"

"Funny because I remember awhile back you said I was too small time and said other things I cannot overlook," Cosette said sweetly, but then her voice turned venomous and deadly in less than a second, "especially now that Captain Kidd isn't around to protect you from me."

"Please no…I…"

Cosette pulled the trigger ending the pirate's life and removing one of her more troublesome rivals.

"It's time for a new Pirate Queen to step up!"

Such was a similar chain of events happening as leaders of smaller pirate crews who had been protected by Captain Kidd for being used to take care of specific tasks and businesses on his behalf were now ruthlessly hunted down and killed by rivals or other pirates and criminal bosses they had run afoul of. Those who had connections with other influential men and those who were wise enough not to make so many enemies were among the lucky ones to escape unscratched for the most part.

Yet where the most feared pirate Captain Miguel Kidd stood there was Cosette Cosmos aiming to fill the void left by his demise.


Lelouch had returned to his cabin aboard his ship having removed his mask to massage his temples as he was reeling from the revelation that aside from PACT he was going to have to deal with a small army of genetically engineered human beings. He also knew that PACT would likely conduct its invasion of the Neutral Rim much sooner now as Lelouch realized that Veniczar S. Arcadius knows that the Black Knights are more formidable than the rest of the Neutral Rim believes. It wouldn't be hard to think that Arcadius is likely acting on the assumption that they will keep growing stronger.

My only saving grace is that PACT has been dealing with civil unrest among its more critically essential worlds needed for production and development of new weapons.

According to reports he had gotten about the overall state the part of the galaxy where PACT dominates has been plagued by growing civil unrest as some worlds have been left in severe poverty and worse since the New Empire was overthrown.

Arcadius will need to deal with his internal issues back home before he can commit all of PACT to full-scale invasion otherwise constant problems such as uprising and other domesticissues will slow down his attack. That is why he was using pirates and criminals to cause havoc and weaken the Neutral Rim worlds while he prepared.

Even through Arcadius would likely begin his invasion as soon as internal issues within PACT's corner of the galaxy was resolved Lelouch estimated he had at least eight months to a year to prepare if he was lucky.

Anything longer than a year would be preferred, but I guess it will depend on how quickly Arcadius deals with his internal issues and complete his invasion preparations.

Then Lelouch's thoughts shifted back to the Prototype he had sitting in a cell within the brig.

Despite the problems associated with that one, there are ways I can make use of her.

The former Emperor knew his enemy the Prototypes would no doubt prove to be a problem to deal with when PACT invades the Neutral Rim. It's unlikely they would be seen on the front lines and might be saved for special missions as Arcadius struck him as the type would send more expendable pawns to their demises and reserve such formidable pawns for something else.

The Prototypes will be also likely to be careful to avoid allowing me to capture one of their own especially if they fear my Geass could affect all of them connected to their hive mind.

However, the most immediate problem Lelouch was facing was dealing with the Prototypes in combat, although he thought about using L7NN against them. Lelouch realistically knew swaying her to his side wouldn't be simple if not impossible, but either way, Lelouch knew it would take time if he wanted to bring her to the Black Knights to use her against her own sisters. Lelouch knew that the realization she had been abandoned and cast aside like a disposable pawn would be his means to begin turning her, but considering the seemingly inherent superiority and arrogance L7NN has it will take time. At the same time, Lelouch did, however, understand that chances were that it would fail, but still he knew there were still some uses for her.

At worst I could Geass her into a servant under my command, but her ability to act and think creativity during a battle will be limited, Lelouch thought while he recalled the performance of those he had used his Geass on to fight for him. But there is the possibility the rest of her sisters could reestablish a connection with her and somehow seize control of her or wipe her mind to erase my command…but could that be even possible?

Lelouch was confident his Geass couldn't be overwritten and considering he had managed to use his Geass on the collective human unconsciousness so he didn't doubt his power could affect the Prototypes and any mind linked to their hive mind. Although those who had been cut off like L7NN and with the possibility of a restored connection left some questions on Lelouch's mind. Would the order he gave spread to the rest of them or could they wipe her mind again to wipe out the previous command he issued upon her?

There was so much to contemplate and plan for, but either way, Lelouch needed to speak with C.C. and get clarification on a few things.


Within the royal palace of New Eden, the leaders of PACT consisting of Veniczar S. Arcadius was sitting at a rectangle-shaped dinner table with Suzaku and Fontana present. Suzaku kept a neutral expression on his face, but he had some suspicious to the purpose he was summoned to New Eden so suddenly after news of Captain Kidd was killed by Zero. He wasn't sure if Arcadius suspected him, but Suzaku could think of no other reason for being summoned.

Suzaku took a moment to gaze around the royal dining room, which was one of many within the palace, but this room was usually used by the Emperor and his family. Suzaku remembered the dining rooms at the Pendragon Palace in Britannia, but the grandeur and ornate furniture paled in comparison to what the New Eden Royal Dining Room possessed. Like some of the rooms the walls had been painted blood red, and much of the chamber remained untouched. Except for the fact that the only occupants in the room were Suzaku, Fontana, and Arcadius while heavily armed guards stood outside of the meeting room beyond the doors while equally heavily armed patrols were guarding the entrance.

"Kururugi," Arcadius said suddenly snapping Suzaku out of his thoughts, "do you know why we have summoned you to New Eden?"

"I wasn't informed Veniczar," Suzaku replied respectfully, but he knew the answer.

"We recall that you were from a planet called Earth, which has been claimed to be the true cradle of humanity before it was rediscovered and conquered by the New Empire," Arcadius began before stopping for a moment to allow an uneasy silence to fill the room. "However it is the same world where Zero first appeared."

Fontana was surprised by this information, but he kept silence yet he listened intently to the on-going conversation between Suzaku and Arcadius.

"Yes, although I admit I was surprised someone would don the mantle seeing that I had personally killed the first and original Zero, for a time I had become the second Zero," Suzaku admitted knowing that attempting to lie would only work against him. He had feared something like this would happen even though very few people in PACT knew the story of Zero with Arcadius being among those who didn't know.

So…you told her, didn't you? Suzaku thought in annoyance as he knew who had likely told Arcadius of Zero, although the former Knight of the Round reasoned that there was no way he could have known what Arcadius was going to become.

"You were Zero for time?" Arcadius said seeming genuinely surprised by this admittance which Suzaku couldn't tell if her surprise was the result of her expecting him to lie or she wasn't told that detail.

"I was chosen to succeed the first Zero and continue on as a Knight of Justice, but it was the part of an elaborate lie and plan the first Zero began to unify the world. However to make the plan work I had to kill the first Zero, who had assumed the mantle of 99th Emperor of Britannia who conquered the world and unifying in using fear and force."

"Why would he need to contact such a plan? Surely there had to be other ways to accomplish such a goal?" Arcadius inquired, although she was likely familiar with the full story it was likely she was trying to glean information from Suzaku by hearing his version of events.

"I would say the life of the first Zero was a sad and tragic one in which he came from the Holy Britannian Empire's royal family, which unlike the New Eden Royal Family was more ambitious and treacherous by nature. This was due to the Empire was built itself upon the ideals of Social Darwinism believing in the strong should stand above the weak."

Suzaku said in a solemn tone as he remembered from Lelouch as children he had learned about the cold truths of the dangers of greed and ambition especially in families of the Britannia Royal Family and even his own.

"The Britannian Royal Family lived by these ideas, and so there was always fierce competition between the children of the Emperor to determine who the next Emperor would be. As such many were killed by assassination by their own family or members of the nobility who backed a possible successor."

"The first Zero was caught up in this competition was he not?"

"Yes he was…his own mother, an Empress and one of the Emperor's many consorts, was a victim of this. Even his younger sister barely survived that ordeal resulting in her becoming blind and paralyzed from the waist down." Suzaku explained before he continued with the story, "After confronting the Emperor for the lack of action towards dealing with the assassins and failing to visit his own daughter they both ended up banished to my home country of Japan to serve as bargaining tools as political hostages. The result of these events left him with a deep hatred for his father and his former country and instilled a difficulty in trust anyone."

Arcadius listened carefully before saying, "Betrayal pushed him towards the plan you spoke of to unify the world."

"Yes that is correct," Suzaku said before proceeding to tell Arcadius and Fontana the history of Zero including events surrounding his first appearance both public and otherwise. However, Suzaku was cautious to avoid revealing anything about the Thought Elevators and was forced to craft a convincing lie using elements of the truth, a trick he had learned from Lelouch himself. Creating a compelling lie that Arcadius wouldn't see through, however, was the most challenging part especially given the nature of the information that Suzaku feared Arcadius could potentially use if he weren't careful.

Thankfully for all of the time, Suzaku has been alive had given him invaluable experience and wisdom in his old age.

The former Knight of the Round had spent over an hour explaining the details and life of Zero before he had slain him by his own hand, but Suzaku was cautious to leave out as much sensitive information about the Thought Elevators as he could and what Charles zi Britannia had initially intended for them.

In the end, Suzaku convinced Arcadius that in place of the Thought Elevators that Charles zi Britannia was creating devices around the world to amplify his own Geass to rewrite the memories of everyone on Earth forcing Lelouch to use his own Geass to counter it and prevent it from working. It was close to what Charles had intended with the Ragnarök Connection, but the method was very different. This allowed him to provide a better cover and justification as to why Lelouch resorted to his plan of self-sacrifice in the end despite the betrayal of the Black Knights.

Arcadius was silent after Suzaku finished, which made the old man nervous but he concealed it well.

"I see your information has been informative Kururugi so we wish for you to assume command of New Eden's space defense network while Fontana can focus more on research and development of our new weapons. I will be sending Cullen to oversee preparations of our invasion into the Neutral Rim, which I hope will be ready before the year is out." Arcadius said, but Suzaku realized something in that instant.

You're keeping me close to home so you can watch my movements more carefully.


Aboard his ship, Lelouch was reclining in his chair when finally an FTL call finally came in before Lelouch accepted it watching the avatar of C.C. materialize.

"You seemed very eager to talk to me," C.C. replied in her usual tone as Lelouch merely stared at her before asking bluntly.

"When were you going to tell me about the Prototypes?"

The green haired immortal seemed surprised, but in that instance, Lelouch knew that the green haired immortal did know about them.

"How did you find out?"

"One of them attacked us after we had finished off Captain Kidd and we began a mop-up of his forces. We captured the pilot, but the mind of the pilot is linked to the Prototype leader who is close to Arcadius."

C.C. sighed before deciding to admit, "Yes I know because I knew the one who is the center of their hive mind."

"Why did you keep this from me?"

"Because it was already difficult trying to give you a reason to go on and become Zero again. I feared if you knew about the Prototypes it would have affected your decision negatively, but I swear I intended to tell you when the time was right." C.C. explained defending her position, but eyeing her carefully Lelouch was confident there was more to it.

"You are hiding something else aren't you? You wouldn't have kept this kind of information from me unless you had a reason for it."

"Lelouch this isn't a discussion to have over an open communication, but yes I had others for hiding this information from you." C.C. explained gently before adding, "But I ask you to, please let me kept this secret for a while longer and in exchange, I'll tell what I know about the Prototypes."

Lelouch was shocked to see a pained expression on C.C's face, although he wanted to press her for more information and wanted the entire story the former Emperor relented.

"Alright tell me what you know, but I will expect you to tell me everything at some point."

C.C. was hesitant before taking a deep breath, "I swear to you that I will when I feel the time is right."


A/N: Well that ends the chapter as some revelations and information on the formidable opposition Lelouch shall be facing as some details about the Prototypes come to light.

Even through Icari didn't join the Black Knights she'll be back later.

Arcadius is suspicious of Suzaku so now she is keeping him under close watch as a precaution, but thankfully whoever told Arcadius about Zero didn't mention the Thought Elevators and what Charles had really tried to do with them. So can you blame Suzaku for being concerned about what she might have tried to attempt if she knew?

So what else could C.C. know that she isn't comfortable with telling Lelouch until later and what her involvement with the Prototypes is and how she came to be aware of them?

Such details and more will be revealed in the coming chapters, but I am deciding now how much of the upcoming war chapters to do before coming to the starting scene of the Sunrider game. I feel it's time to sound the drums of war, but will Lelouch have enough time to get ready for the storm that is coming earlier now?

Thank you all in advance for your reviews, and I greatly appreciate them.