Kallen kept a careful watch on the many construction workers passing her by, the scene going by smoothly as ever. The architects were busily trying to determine which design was better suited to the building's task, while the others were somewhere else, either drinking or talking with counterparts they've never even seen before. The different cultures intermingled with one another, forming an amalgamation of spiteful attitudes, ones that favored that once controversial idea of globalization and the like. The language barriers were definitely an issue, but other than that, the atmosphere as a whole was generally amiable. It was pretty cool, in Kallen's opinion.

Zero had asked her to be here, at the site of the new Babel Tower, to make sure everything was going according to plan. Though there were many tourists here, there was a lot of preparation to do, with a majority of the world waiting anxiously for the mall's debut; as a result, there were many people gathered around, watching its slow, gradual development. There were even a multitude of job fairs going on, with dozens of workers scheduled to talk with aspiring agents, salespersons, and the like.

The grand opening was to take place next week, with a special appearance from Oghi and Villetta. Even Arthur, the little cat everyone loved, was going to be there. Tamaki was catering to the masses, while Milly was up there, on the big screen, trying to do everything humanly possible to make the event seem more extravagant than it really was.

The Guren, as well as the ancient Burais and the now outdated Akatsukis, posed for their admiring audiences, with their respective pilots beside her. Even Kallen proved to be a wondrous relic, for the pilots were gazing at her, whispering to one another about how young and beautiful she was, and how this girl could have bested everyone, the infamous Knight of Zero included. Everyone marveled at the machine's special functions, and children were stroking it delicately, only to get yanked back by their obsessive mothers, chiding them for being so bold.

Yes, it was supposed to be a happy day.

Then a gun shot rang from overhead.

She looked up, and saw those very same, black Knightmares from the Chinese Federation floating high in the air, their guns aimed at the crowds. It only took a second for her to climb into the Guren, the revenge soaked within her veins, while the crowds tried making their way out of the site.

She was going to destroy them.

The Guren flew into the air, dodging the barrage of bullets suddenly aimed at her. The feathers' shields came to her with their blinding radiance, shielding her from the defunct attack, before she accelerated the thrusters. The right claws cut through the poor Knightmare and destroyed it, a single, fiery blast engulfing the surrounding area in a raging inferno. Kallen looked down, and once again, dodged those troublesome wings once again. The radio waves came on, and she narrowed her eyes then. "Get everyone out of there!" she ordered.

She didn't have time to listen to any other requests. On the ground, the Burais were shielding the citizens, all the while attempting to shoot down their powerful predators. The Akatsukis came forth, attempting to guard them with everything they had. However, they, as well, succumbed to the black Knightmares. Kallen bit her lip, and shoved the controls forward.

The radiant wave surged from the Guren's arm. She launched the slash harkens against one Knightmare before it had the chance to kill anyone else. The Knightmare was impaled on the Guren's arm, and without any effort, Kallen threw it down, effectively murdering the job fairs down below. She turned again, and raced toward the attacking armies. The arm crushed its opponents with ease. Immediately, she threw the slash harkens toward her left and right side, crushing the upcoming Knightmares nearby. There were three more aiming for her, but their speeds were so great they would have an awfully difficult time moving anywhere else. Their pattern of attack was too predictable, the offense consisting only of straight lines and bullets. She only had to rise upwards, allowing the Knightmares to destroy themselves and their pathetic pride.

She felt a jolt from the back and turned. One of the feathers was down; her defense system was going to be offline for a bit. She swirled the Guren to meet her next opponent, that very same Knightmare staring at her with different eyes. Huh; the pilot knows what they're actually doing.

Kallen smiled, and used the thrusters to get close, aiming directly for the Knightmare's torso. It automatically dodged, and instead, jammed its foot against the Guren. She grunted, but her arm managed to get to the radiant wave surger toward the enemy's arm, as it was reaching for one of its feathers. The claws grabbed onto the wrist, the familiar echoes of destruction already filling Kallen's ears. She used the other arm and attempted to tear through it.

The Knightmare was still there.

She saw the feather transform, and immediately, tried impaling the Guren. Kallen stretched its wings, and shielded herself from the attack, letting go of the machine, as she felt herself being forced away by her opponent. She looked up, and started tracking the Knightmare's movements, her fingers corresponding to the actions she will take. She readied the radiant wave shielding. The Knightmare was coming.

Then it stopped.

Kallen watched, all breath held in her body, the silence permeating through the Guren, as the grey energy wings of the Knightmare suddenly dissipated, distorting its senses through the air. The electrical current was strong; she could feel it all the way from here. In one second, the Knightmare began falling.

"No you don't," Kallen muttered. "You're not getting away that easily."

With one push, the Guren flew straight toward the falling opponent. The entire armor was down, so when Kallen pierced through its stomach, her eyes widened. She flew down, where the already abandoned construction site lay. She steadied herself and lowered the enemy Knightmare on the ground. With one single move, the Guren raised its arm and tore off the cockpit, wondering just who was behind the attack. Her eyes widened at her opponent.

It was a doll.

A doll, with a bomb strapped to it.

Shit.

Kallen thrust the enemy Knightmare away, and took off into the skies. The faint glimmer of the inferno appeared from the corner of her eyes, and she gritted her teeth. She looked up at the now burning skies, the white shining off the Knightmare now evident to the public.

Zero.


Suzaku gripped the controls tightly, his hand threatening to crush the switches right then and there. His eyes surveyed the wreckage below, already taking in the civilian casualties. There were enemy Knightmare parts all over the site, a good reminder of Kallen's abilities, but a lot of the decorative machines were taken out as well. Though there were no deaths, Suzaku could already determine the panic arousing from the streets, as well as the confusion of what was going on, what was happening. To the lower left corner of the screen, he saw the Guren floating there, waiting for orders.

His eyes took apart the rubble that was now determined to crush whoever stood in their way. Pieces of the enemy were scattered everywhere, and though there was a lot of blood, there were no living creatures among them. Suzaku knew they were dead, yet, at the same time, they could move, could attack, could do whatever they wished as long as they were following their king's command. He only had to dive closer to see the blacks in their chest, with a twisted, mutant version of something, something that should have been a heart. The thing was pumping desperately, trying to keep itself conscious, even though it knew it was dying.

The crowds were far behind him, and he could practically hear all the questions they had to ask, Milly included. He closed his eyes, and tried coming up with a strategy to deal with them, when a radio static jolted from his ears. He turned to the direction of the muffled voice, and narrowed his eyes. Suzaku listened hesitantly, waiting for the speaker.

"Lancelot."

Suzaku took a deep breath. "You didn't kill anyone."

"True. You think I should have?"

"This is the second time this has happened. Exactly what do you want here?"

"What?" Arthur taunted. "I can't have a bit of fun with them? Unlike you, I never intended to kill anyone here."

"I didn't think you valued life at all." he said smoothly, trying to prevent any rash anger taking control. "Considering what you did to Euphie."

"You should be thanking me old friend. If it wasn't for Guinevere's adultery, you never would have had the strength you possessed today."

Suzaku stiffened as he descended down into the construction site, with Kallen following after. "I'm going to ask again. What do you want here?"

There was a tense silence over the connection. Suzaku turned around warily, making sure no one was caught up in the attack, when he heard the king growl. "You know what I want."

"Euphie is off limits. I won't hesitate to destroy you if you come near her again."

"I don't want that bitch."

"Then what?" Suzaku screamed, pounding his fists onto the controls. "You can't just come here and do what you damn well please. You're immaturity has costed you a number of forces and Knightmares, while we have nothing to lose. You're fighting a lost cause Arthur-"

"Just shut up," Arthur said finally. "I'm here to take back my fool; that's all. Why do you think I sent all my soldiers here in the first place?"

Fool? "What kind of ridiculous reason is that?"

"Just give me back my court jester Lancelot, and I will go."

Suzaku gritted his teeth. "If I recall, you said that the last time."

"That was before you stole him from me!"

"And just who is it that I stole from you, Arthur?"

No answer.

"I will repeat my warning again." Suzaku stated evenly. "Interfere again, and I will kill you. This conversation is over." And with that, the quiet resumed. He sat back in his seat, rubbing his temples.

A fool, huh? He was causing all this destruction for the sake of some runaway employee. Suzaku couldn't even begin to guess the kind of mind behind that logic. Still, if Arthur was that upset, so much so he would come back to this reality and attack, that person must be incredibly special. His mind returned to that night, back when the destruction came knocking at his door, back when his best friend had gone missing.

He opened up the channel once again, and issued Kallen her orders.

"Zero!" was what he heard then.

"Q-1, make sure everyone got out safely."

"U-understood…"

"Afterwards, I want you to contact the prime minister and Lady Kaguya, and tell them to heighten security. Go back home and wait for further orders." After that, he closed off the communication lines, and moved the Lancelot away from the area.

Euphie needed to know about this.