Hello, everyone! My finals for summer school are over XD !! This means I now have two weeks to write until the fall semester starts. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update though because of my new job, but I will work on this story for you guys. Anyway, I got a bunch of mixed reviews on the last chapter, and I really hope that this chapter is good. Let me know what you think in your reviews. Now let's start the chapter XD!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. It is the property of its creators and respective owners.

xXxXx

Chapter 10: Thoughts, Dreams, and the Drums of War

In the military building across the school grounds, the Research and Development Department was about to work on the Guren, at least Lloyd was. Lloyd looked to see if there was anyone around before picking up a series of power tools to take the Guren apart.

"Now, let's see how Rakshata's little baby works," he chimed merrily.

However before he could get to work, he heard a very familiar set of footsteps.

"Lloyd!" shouted Cecile, "What do you think you're doing?!" she demanded.

"Awww come on," sighed Lloyd, "What's the point of keeping the Guren in Research and Development if we aren't going to research? Besides, it's not like…"

A knife was suddenly pressed against Lloyd's throat, but it didn't cut.

"…I'm not around?" said Kallen finishing Lloyd's sentence, "You weren't going to violate my Guren were you?"

"Please," said Lloyd innocently, "Just a quick peek? I promise I'll be gentle with her."

"No," said Kallen curtly before she removed the knife from Lloyd's neck and put it away," I don't trust with my Guren. Knowing you, you might go overboard and do something really weird to it," she grabbed a laptop, and several adapter plugs nearby, "I'll conduct maintenance."

xXxXx

In the Chinese Federation, the leaders of the Black Knights were in the imperial palace. There they, along with Xing Ke and Empress Tianzi, were planning to make their alliance public. After all the preparations were completed, both groups were relaxing in the gardens during a stunning sunset. Kaguya was with Tianzi feeding koi fish in the pond. Ougi was reading through classical Chinese Literature, Xing Ke and Todou were playing Go, and C.C. was eating through her sixth pizza. As they were relaxing, a soldier entered the gardens.

"Please forgive the interruption," bowed the soldier, "but a message has come in from Zero,"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the soldier. Todou and Xing Ke however concentrated on the game board.

"Zero?" asked Ougi, "Is it urgent?"

"Yes, it would appear so," said the soldier, "It is a message for only the leaders of the Black Knights, and Lord Xing Ke."

Todou set the final stone on the board. Xing Ke saw the board an noticed that it was a tie. They bowed respectfully before getting up. They picked up their swords, and walked toward the center of the garden.

"Only us?" asked Ougi, a little worried about the subject of the message.

"…something's not right," said C.C.

She put down her pizza, and followed the soldier. Ougi, Todou, Xing Ke followed as well.

"Xing Ke, is something wrong?" asked Tianzi.

"Nothing that you need concern yourself with at the moment," answered Xing Ke.

"Oh, ok," said Tianzi a little disappointed.

Xing Ke knelt in front of her.

"I'm sure it's nothing too serious," said Xing Ke before turning to Kaguya, "Keep her company until I find out what is going on."

"Sure," said Kaguya.

Xing Ke bowed to both of them. He then joined the others in the hallway when he finished talking to his empress. When they arrived in the communications room, they noticed Diethart and Rakshata waiting there for them.

"So, you got the message I'm guessing," said Diethart.

"Yes," answered Ougi, "If it's addressed only to us, then it can't be good news.

The speakerphone turned on in that moment.

"Is everyone there?" asked Zero.

"Yes, we are here Lord Zero," said Diethart.

"Zero, is everything alright?" asked Ougi.

"No," said Zero simply, "First of all, the following news concerns both the Chinese Federation and the Black Knights. Xing Ke, your fears are correct, war is coming to the Chinese Federation."

Though not totally surprised by the development of a war, everyone was surprised at how quickly it was going to come.

"When will they be here?" asked Xing Ke calmly.

"Schneizel has been mobilizing troops to the Mongolian border for the past few days. The Knights of Three and Six are already stationed there, and all Schneizel needs is the approval of the emperor before he can attack," answered Zero.

Xing Ke thought for a moment.

"Mongolia eh?" muttered Xing Ke, "Their first target will be Ulaanbaatar. If they take that, then they will have the Korean Peninsula surrounded, as well as a free range to attack the rest of the country. I'll inform the provincial governments in the region, and tell them to mobilize the Mangudai and the Hwarang."

"Very well, Todou, you will assist Xing Ke in the defenses" said Zero.

"Understood," said Todou.

"Now there is one more pressing matter that needs to be covered."

"What's that?" asked Ougi.

"What I am about to say cannot leave this room, at least not until I know how to handle this situation, or if I can't stop it" said Zero, who then became quiet before answering, "It's Kallen."

Everyone immediately tensed at Zero's mention of Kallen's name.

"Kallen," said Ougi in distress, "What happened?! Is she alright?!"

"She's alive," answered Zero, "but she's not the same."

"What do you mean she's not the same?!" demanded Ougi.

"C.C.," began Zero, "I think you have a good idea of what I mean."

"…Yes," answered the ever impassive woman, realizing what happened to Kallen, "What should we expect."

"…Nothing at the moment," said Zero.

"Wait! Hold on Zero! What about Kallen?!" demanded Ougi.

"I'll be staying a little longer," said Zero, "I'll be trying to get through to her. If all goes well, I can…prevent a worst case scenario. Zero out."

The call was immediately cut.

"Wait!" shouted Ougi, but Zero had hung up, "Rgh…what's going on?! What does he mean she's not the same?"

"If I'm correct in my assumptions, I would have to say that she's been brainwashed," said C.C.

"Brainwashed?" asked Ougi in disbelief, "That's ridiculous! How could you suggest such a crazy theory?!"

"Because I know," said C.C.

Ougi grabbed C.C.'s collar, and gave it a tight tug.

"Give me a straight answer!" he yelled, "Is that so much to ask?!"

"Enough!"

Everyone except Xing Ke turned to see Todou beat the sword sheath on the floor.

"Vice Commander Ougi, I understand your concern, but now is not the time to make rash actions," said the samurai, "Zero will handle Miss Kozuki, but we need to handle things here while we still have time."

Ougi was furious about what was happening to Kallen. Ever since Naoto had died, he had taken it upon himself to take care of Kallen. Now she was brainwashed; it didn't make sense to him. But, Todou had a point. War was coming, and they had to be ready. He let go of C.C.

"I understand," said Ougi.

As everyone left, but Ougi stayed in the room in despair. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see C.C. comforting him.

"Don't worry," said C.C., "If anyone can get her back, he can."

Ougi just looked at her, unsure of what to say.

xXxXx

As Kallen ran the maintenance on her laptop, Cecile watched the young woman with her knightmare. When Kallen went to Brittania's side, she had found Kallen to be a very interesting person, and the two became friends in a brief time. Still, she found it weird that she would turn on the Black Knights so quickly and easily.

"Ms. Cecile?"

Spooked, Cecile jumped up, and shot her head to her left and saw Suzaku.

"Suzaku! Don't scare me," scolded Cecile.

"Sorry, but you looked like you have something on your mind," said Suzaku.

"It's just well…Suzaku, how did you get her to switch sides?" asked Cecile.

"Classified," answered Suzaku quickly.

"Oh, I see…" said Cecile before looking away.

"Look, Miss Cecile," began Suzaku once he realized he upset her, "I'm sorry, it's just…"

"Hey, Suzaku!" called out Lloyd.

"Yes," answered Suzaku, "What is…"

He saw three men from the Secret Intelligence Agency behind Lloyd.

"These gentlemen want to speak to you," said Lloyd, "They say it's important."

"Oh…yes, of course," said Suzaku.

Suzaku followed the men into a dark room with only one light on. Once Suzaku took his seat, they began to question him.

"Has the subject regained her memories?" asked one of the agents.

"No," answered Suzaku.

"What about the students?" asked the second agent, "Do they have their suspicions?"

"No," answered Suzaku, "Unbelievably, the whole 'Double-Agent' story worked."

"And what of Lelouch?" asked the third agent, "Has he acted strangely with her around?"

"No," answered Suzaku, "As far as his actions, and other people's testimonies dictate, he's innocent. I, however, still have my suspicions."

"Has the woman acted 'normal' around Zero?" asked the second agent.

"Relatively," said Suzaku, "By the way, why didn't his majesty let her keep her memories of Zero identity? It would be a lot easier to catch him if…"

"Are you questioning his majesty's will?" said the first agent.

"No, I just…"

"Follow your orders, and if anyone remembers, kill them," said all three in unison.

When the three agents left the room, Suzaku stayed and looked at the floor. As he sat alone in that dark room, his thoughts drifted to when Kallen lost her memories.

Kallen struggled, but Suzaku only tightened his hold on her.

"Relax Kallen," said Suzaku, "If you don't, you'll suffer as much as Lelouch."

"NO! STOP! PLEASE, DON'T…I BEG YOU!!" she cried as tear poured out of her eyes.

"Now, Charles Di Brittania, shall engrave upon you your new memories!" shouted the emperor.

"NO!! PLEASE!!" she begged, but it was too late.

The red light of Geass went through her eyes, and pierced her mind. The emperor explored Kallen's mind to see which memories he could alter, allow her to keep, and which ones he could erase completely. After exploring, he erased her memories of Zero, the Black Knights, Nunnally, and her most treasured memory, her brother Naoto. As all this was happening, Kallen felt brain was being ripped in different direction

"Onii…chan," whispered Kallen before she fainted.

Suzaku set her down gently, and looked at her unconscious form. As he did he remembered that the day he sold Lelouch to the emperor. The only feelings in his heart were anger and pity.

"Kururugi!" bellowed the emperor.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Suzaku bowed.

"Yes, your majesty," said Suzaku.

"You will take this girl with you to Area 11, and have her go to your school," said the emperor.

"Your highness?" asked Suzaku puzzled.

"I have erased her of her 'Japanese' self and removed Zero's identity from her mind," said the emperor, "She is now nothing more than a Stadtfeld, and I have made her into a devoted soldier to the empire. Have the Stadtfelds know of my wishes."

"Y-Yes, your highness…" began Suzaku, but before he left, he spoke up once more, "Your highness?"

"Yes," said the emperor.

"If I may ask, why did you wish to have the prisoner brought here?" asked Suzaku, "And what about her mother and Lelouch's secret?"

"I ordered you to bring her because she is useful," said the emperor, "Who better to break Zero, and his 'Knights' than their own ace. As for her mother, she will be aware of her existence, but she will not have the sympathy for her that she originally had."

"And Lelouch?" asked Suzaku.

"If she is as devoted to her friends as you stated, then her feelings would get in the way of her new purpose," said the emperor.

"But…"

"Enough!" bellowed the emperor, "You are dismissed."

"Y-Yes, your highness," said Suzaku, "Please, forgive my impudence."

As his thoughts drifted back to the present, he got up and left the dark room.

xXxXx

Fire. Rubble. Smoke. Everywhere it was the same thing.

"Where, am I? What is this?" said Kallen to herself.

Suddenly there was a noise from behind. She turned around to see who it was, and then she saw him. Zero, Brittania's most feared enemy. She noticed that he saw her, and he began to walk toward her. As he did, she just stood motionless, and watched it all happen. As soon as he was close enough, he stopped and extended his hand as if inviting her to come to him.

She simply stared at the hand. Suddenly, as if possessed, she walked toward him.

'What am I doing?!' she suddenly thought.

She stopped walking, pulled out her gun, and took aim. Zero simply stood there motionless, and lowered his hand.

"What indeed," he said, "Don't you know?"

"Know what?!"demanded Kallen.

Zero didn't answer, but simply turned around and walked away.

"Wait!!" she screamed, and she squeezed the trigger.

The bullet hit the back of the mask, causing it to slowly crack. After a moment, it split down the middle, and it fell apart. When the mask fell on the floor, Zero turned around. The shadows created by the fire behind him made him nothing more than a silhouette. However she did see one thing: a glowing red eye.

"Kallen, come back," said Zero.

"Kallen!"

Kallen's eyes shot open. Cecile was on the side of the Guren's cockpit.

"Wh-What…?" said Kallen a little groggy.

"You were having a nightmare," said Cecile, "Are you alright?"

"A nightmare?" asked Kallen slightly more awake.

"In any case, you should go home and get some rest," suggested Cecile.

"But…the test on the Guren," began Kallen.

"I've already taken a look at them, and everything checks out fine," said Cecile in a reassuring tone of voice, "Now go on go to sleep, you have school tomorrow."

"Oh, ok," said Kallen," I'll head to the dorms."

"The dorms?" asked Cecile, "Don't you have a home at the Stadtfeld family estate?"

"Suzaku has been trying to ease their confusion at the situation, and until that happens, I'll be staying in the dorms."

"Oh, I see," said Cecile.

Kallen got out of the cockpit, and went to the platform ladder. Once she climbed down the ladder, then onto a series of steps, she walked to the door.

"Kallen!" called out Cecile.

Kallen turned around.

"Goodnight," said Cecile before giving her a bow.

Kallen felt something in her heart that compelled her to bow. She bowed back to Cecile.

"Goodnight Miss Cecile," said Kallen.

As she left the building, a number of thoughts went through Kallen's head.

'Why did I bow back?' she thought, 'But more importantly, what was that weird dream I had? Why did I walk toward him when he extended his hand?'

"Kallen, come back."

'What did Zero mean?' thought Kallen to herself.

xXxXx

On the Mongolian steppes, a group of yurts were assembled into a makeshift village. The horses were uneasy, and a boy went out to check up and see what was wrong. He didn't see any bandits around, and the horses had apparently eaten their meal. He went back to the yurt when all of a sudden, a little girl went after him.

"Brother Temujin! Brother Temujin!"

The boy turned around and saw the girl. It was his younger sister.

"Temulin? What are you doing?" he asked his sister angrily, "You know better than to come out after sunset. What if bandits captured you?"

"But you've got to come see this," begged his sister.

"See what?" asked Temujin.

"Just come on," urged his sister before taking off.

"Temulin!" shouted the boy.

He sighed, and went after his sister.

"Where are we going?!" he yelled.

"To where the pretty lights are," answered the little girl.

"What lights?! The stars?! You can see them from…"

"No. not the stars, the lights on the ground!" shouted the girl to her brother.

When she go top on top of the hill, she stood there.

"So what did you want me to…" the boy began to say, but he stopped at what he saw.

In the horizon where the hills were, he saw vibrant flashes of light, and could hear booming thunderous sounds.

"Isn't it pretty," said his sister, "It's like a lightning storm, but on the ground."

"Temulin," began Temujin.

"Yes brother?"

"Wake up mom, dad, and the others," said Temujin, "Tell them we need to go now."

"Huh?" asked the girl.

Temujin picked up his sister, and ran down the hill.

"Brother, what are you doing?"

"That's no pretty set of lights," said Temujin, "That's trouble is what it is."

"What do you mean?" asked his sister.

Meanwhile, where the pretty lights were coming from…

"This is Mangudai patrol unit seven!" shouted a distressed soldier in his Gun-Ru, "We're under attack! I repeat it's an…AAAGH!"

The Gun-Ru was destroyed, and any stragglers that tried to run away were immediately shot down.

"What's going on?!" said a radio, "What's happening out the…."

The radio was run over by a Glouster, as it crushed the last of the Gun-Ru.

"Lady Anya, we have silenced the last of them," said the pilot in the Glouster.

"Enemy destroyed…" said Anya over the radio.

"Hey Anya," began Gino over the radio, "Don't you think using all your missiles, and squad team on an enemy patrol is a tad bit too much.

"Our orders were to eliminate any enemies we came across…" said Anya over the radio.

"That's right Anya, good work," said Schneizel.

From behind the Mordred, and the accompanying Glousters, the Avalon came into view, hovering above the ground. However, in front of it were hundreds of Glousters, Sutherlands, support vehicles, and convoys of fuel and supply trucks, a small portion of Schneizel's army from his campaign against the EU.

"Your highness, don't you think leaving Lord Bradley in charge of the EU campaign is wise?" asked Gino on Avalon's bridge, "I mean, the guy is pretty crazy."

"His majesty made me in charge of taking over the Chinese Federation and the EU at once," said Schneizel, "This will be a short campaign anyway."

"You're pretty confident, your highness," commented Gino, "Then again, the capital is in the north in Luoyang. We take that, and capture the empress, then we'll be pretty much set."

"Yes, we will be" said Schneizel before he stood up.

"All Forces, commence Operation: Dragon Slayer!!" shouted Schneizel over the intercom.

"YES, YOUR HIGHNESS!!"

And so the war begins, tell me what you all think of this chapter. Thank you for reading and please review.

Author's notes: I went on Wikipedia to do a little research for this chapter. Here is some of the stuff I thought I'd use:

Hwarang: The elite soldiers of the Silla kingdom in Korea.

Mangudai: The Mongol Warriors that Genghis Khan commanded in his campaigns.

Temujin: the name of Genghis Khan when he was a child, and before he became Khan.

Temulin: Temujin's sister.

Yurt: A Mongolian house that can be disassembled in order to move at a moment's notice.

The reason that I decided to have a Korean and Mongolian divisions in the Chinese Federation army is because I thought that it would make sense. The Chinese Federation has nearly the entire Asian continent in its borders, and therefore different military traditions. I just thought that it would be pretty cool to name divisions of the military based upon the names of each regions warriors.