The Third Game: Lelouch of the Empire

by Evanescent.Jasmine

AU. In the wake of his mother's murder, Prince Lelouch's siblings convince him not to rise against the Emperor. Years later, he finds the opportunity to further his hidden agenda and take his revenge as Sub-Viceroy of Area 11 and Zero. ON HIATUS. Info on my profile.

14. Knight

Chapter 14:Knight

Shirley gazed out of the window with unseeing eyes, hardly registering the gorgeous scenery that flashed past. Toying with the straw of her cocktail, she couldn't help the sigh that escaped her, one of many. Idiot, she thought. You have no right to be so upset.

But that didn't stop the fact that she was, and while her head rationalized her heart blocked it all out, stubbornly clinging to her silly little crush. All the rationale in the world couldn't prevent her from dreaming of her prince charming, nor could it stop her from replaying their last meeting in her mind.

It was, simply put, a disaster.

First he'd caught her hiding under a table, apparently spying, and then he'd been attacked by Arthur, causing him to go trigger-happy before she managed –barely- to pry the cat off of him. And then there was the embarrassing revelation to Nunally, made even more embarrassing by the girl's gracious invitation to lunch. It made Shirley wonder if they (Helen, Sophie and herself) couldn't have saved themselves the trouble and just asked nicely in the first place. Maybe then the simple act of having lunch with a Prince and a noblewoman (they never did know what exactly Nunna's title was) wouldn't have been so difficult.

And then…

The way he looked at her, the way he spoke… Shirley found it hard to believe, but it was just as hard not to after witnessing their interaction. And what was worse, they acted like it was completely natural for them to be together. There were no awkward silences between them, no scripted rolls to fall into; only a heart-wrenching familiarity that made her feel almost embarrassed to see, as if she was intruding upon their moment.

Nunally had been the perfect hostess, of course, and made sure to include the girls in the conversation, but Prince Lelouch had no such inclination. He had eyes only for Nunna, something that had irritated Sophie to no end. When he spoke to the guests it was with a cool formality that plainly told them he was only doing it to be polite. And that he didn't even care enough to hide it.

Shirley sighed again, only to be brought back to Earth after receiving a prompt whack on the head, courtesy of Milly's rolled-up magazine.

"Owww," she complained, rubbing her forehead lightly. Milly set the magazine down and wagged a reprimanding finger in her friend's face.

"Stop spacing out like that!" she ordered, "We're here to enjoy our time together, which means you're going to have a good time whether you like it or not! Got that, Missy?"

"Yes, Madame Prez,"

"More feeling!"

She rolled her olive eyes, but complied, louder this time, "Yes, Missprez!"

"I can't hear you!"

"YES! MISS! PREZ!" Shirley was red-faced but grinning, if only at the absurdity of it all, and Milly gave a nod in satisfaction. Her grin rapidly fell at hearing Nunally's quiet giggles, however. Oh god, and she'd gone and made a fool of herself in front of Nunna again, and now-

"Shirleeeeey," The President was rolling up her magazine again, an eyebrow quirked in what was supposed to be a threatening gesture.

"Is something on your mind, Shirley?" Nunally asked, oblivious to the menace sitting beside her.

"No. I guess it's just… I've never been out of the settlement before, you know?" she lied. She went back to playing with her straw, ashamed at herself for having to lie to such a sweet little girl, and missed the smirk that was curling at the blonde's lips. Had she seen it, Shirley would have described it as purely devilish.

"Oh, I know, alright," Milly leaned forward conspiratorially, giving Shirley and Nina who were sitting opposite her an eyeful of cleavage. "You're wondering if the cabin boys are going to be as cute as they were in the pamphlet. Or maybe you're thinking about a weekend tryst with an exotic Eleven, hmnn?"

Nina choked, looking positively scandalized. "H-how could you even joke about that, Milly?"

"What? Elevens can't be cute?"

"Well that's not what I was thinking about," Shirley huffed. She felt like her face was about to burn off. Folding her arms, she was quick to follow up, hoping Milly would be distracted and forget about bugging her, "And you shouldn't think about that stuff either! Elevens can be dangerous, no matter how cute they may be."

The Ashford heiress sat back, laughing lightly and waving a hand in dismissal. She wiggled her eyebrows and said, "The danger's just part of the appeal."

They were suddenly plunged in darkness as the train passed through a tunnel. Someone gasped, and Shirley looked worriedly at her friends.

"Is something wrong?" Nunally asked. In that instant they emerged from the tunnel and were flooded with light again. Shirley could see the concerned frown on the wheelchair-bound girl's face and Villetta Nu's pinched expression, and also Milly's smile as she knelt down in front of Nina, patting her hand reassuringly.

"Nina, it's alright," she cooed, but it did little to comfort the frightened girl. The confusion was evident on Shirley's face, though she later tried to mask it. Milly, as always, seemed to know exactly what to do. Her smile never wavered for a second. "There are loads of Britannian tourists at Lake Kawaguchi, so security's fine. Don't be afraid. It's not the ghettoes."

"Y-yes, but-"

"We'll be with you the whole time. You'll never be rid of us, I promise."

The mousy girl gave a timid little smile, "Thanks,"

"Besides!" Shirley chirped, regaining her usual bright demeanour. "We have Miss Villetta here, and she's trained in all sorts of combat and stuff. She'll protect us! Right, Miss Villetta?"

The dark-skinned woman, now accustomed to being randomly included in their conversations, gave a prompt nod. "That's right. There's absolutely nothing to worry about."

---

In light of recent, very alarming discoveries made in the A.S.E.E.C.'s hangar, Lelouch could be found pacing his office, a look of deep concentration as well as frustration on his face.

Ever since he'd set foot in this accursed country, it seemed as if all of his plans were crumbling all around him. Those that did come through were always with frantic last-minute adjustments. Why could nothing go according to plan, for once?

"It's too soon," he muttered, running an aggravated hand through his hair. Seemingly unaware of Jeremiah's presence, Lelouch spoke his thoughts aloud, "I can't… But if I don't, then I'll lose my leverage. But would it be too sudden? Or perhaps… Yes, I have to act, now."

He suddenly stopped in his tracks and whirled on the knight, who had been standing patiently to the side, "Jeremiah, I wish to speak with Reuben Ashford."

The man was terribly efficient, and in only a few moments Lelouch was seated behind his desk, fingers laced over his knees and looking at the Headmaster's elderly face in his screen.

"Good day, Lord Ashford," he greeted.

Reuben Ashford merely chuckled, giving a slight shake of his greying head. "Good day to you too, your Highness. Although, as you well know, I haven't been a Lord for seven years."

Lelouch wasted no time in getting down to business. His eyes became hard, expression stony and unforgiving. "Is that why you're setting your granddaughter up with Earl Asplund?"

Ashford's smile fell rapidly. This was a man renown for his youthfulness, but Lelouch thought he looked inexplicably old as he closed his eyes, a hand rising to pinch the bridge of his nose. It was as if the weight of all his years had finally fallen upon him. "I assure you, my Prince," he said, heaving a great sigh. "That arrangement is not one I approve of."

Lelouch gave a careful smile, his expression showing just the right amount of approval. "I'm glad to hear that," he began, his tone much more amicable now. "But I'm right, aren't I? Your family wishes to regain your noble status, so they're marrying Milly off to Asplund."

"I'm afraid so."

"Is Milly alright with that?"

The once-proud Lord Ashford now turned away, his head bowing slightly. That was all the answer Lelouch needed.

"I understand." He lowered his head as well, although in his case it was more to hide his smirk than anything else. Behind him, Jeremiah Gottwald watched the interaction with barely-contained curiosity. "In that case, I have a proposition for you. Your granddaughter is a friend of mine, and I don't want to see her suffer. Certainly not with Lloyd Asplund."

Truthfully, the idea of combining the eccentric genius of Milly Ashford and Lloyd Asplund was simply too much to bear. Lelouch shuddered at the thought of how their offspring might turn-out. Yes, he must stop this marriage, for all of humanity's sake.

"Thus, I will see to it that your title returns."

Ashford's head whipped up immediately, his eyes widened in surprise. However, the Prince could also detect some suspicion and he could see a frown pulling at his lips underneath that heavy moustache. Reuben Ashford was a man of the world. He knew more than anyone else just how risky it was to depend on a royal. He also knew that nothing came without a price.

"Don't go thanking me yet. I'm afraid there's a catch," he said, confirming Ashford's thoughts. There was no use denying what they both knew. However, Lelouch was making it seem as if the matter pained him, and he hesitated momentarily to make the act even more convincing, before he leaned closer to the screen, "Tell me, Lord Ashford… Do you still have your old knack for machinery?"

---

When Villetta Nu became a knight, she'd been ecstatic. No, beyond ecstatic, she'd been… There was really no word for it. And yet, she somehow managed to maintain her cool expression, broken only by a righteous smirk on her painted lips. And all she could think was, Take that, all you brats at the Academy!

Knight of Honour, Villetta Nu. It was her life's dream finally coming to fruition. She was a noble, if not by birth then by rightfully earned status. It wouldn't be so hard to reach even higher, reach for the stars, for Rounds Status or, barring that, a position with the Royal Guard. It wouldn't be so hard to get a real title.

She'd been aiming for service with Princess Cornelia, but when she was summoned by Jeremiah Gottwald she didn't dare refuse. There was only a year between herself and Gottwald, and she had served with him briefly before he was assigned to the Royal Guard. He had shown little care for her origins, and for that Villetta held an immense amount of respect for him.

Of course, it didn't hurt that he was now Prince Lelouch's personal knight as well.

The last thing she'd expected was to be assigned to guard, not Prince Lelouch, who although young and generally belittled in the military field would have given her a wonderful chance to prove herself against those Eleven terrorists, but his sister, Princess Nunally.

His sister, who was blind and crippled and only fifteen years old.

Something in Jeremiah's knowing look, and then the calculated glare he shot her way, made her accept, because she knew she would come to regret if she didn't. He would make her regret it.

And now here she was, pushing the princess' wheelchair around as she and her ditzy little friends discussed hot springs and clothes and who knows what else, wishing desperately that she could be transported into a knightmare. Villetta was a soldier, not a baby-sitter! She wanted some action!

As if in response to her unspoken wish, the door at the far end of the room exploded. Villetta immediately pulled the wheelchair back, ducking in front of the Princess as she extracted her firearm, when all of a sudden Elevens began to pour in. Each of the Elevens was training his rifle on them, and it was obvious from their stance that these were no ordinary terrorists.

They're too organized. Almost like a military. Villetta's eyes widened then narrowed as she came to a realization. TheJapanLiberation Front.

"What's happening?" the Princess cried out.

"It seems…" The knight of honour glared at their captors and slowly slid her firearm back into its place under her shirt. It would be foolish to try anything. There were just too damn many of them. "It seems the hotel has been hijacked."

Here was one half of her wish: action. Now if only she could have her other half: a knightmare and plenty of ammo.

Princess Nunally reached for her hand and Villetta let her, grasping those frail fingers tightly even as the Elevens surrounded them.

---

"Your Highness."

Lelouch frowned, disgruntled at the interruption, but turned his head slightly towards Jeremiah and motioned for him to talk. It was only when the knight bowed down to speak to him that Lelouch noticed how ashen his face was. Soon the blood drained from his face as well as Jeremiah relayed the news to him and, for several painful moments, he could've sworn his heart stopped.

"Kawaguchi?" he repeated, his voice a strained whisper.

He'd forgotten entirely about the elderly man he'd been speaking to, but Ashford reminded him of his presence when he, after a polite cough, inquired if everything was alright.

"I'm sorry, Lord Ashford," Lelouch said, rising abruptly from his seat. "But I'll have to cut this conversation short. It appears my fiancée has just been taken hostage."

"Milly?" the headmaster asked, staring incredulously. "But, she was just going to a resort with some friends! She…" He trailed off, a hand covering his mouth as he came to the realization of what the Prince meant. "Oh my. I-is the Princess alright?"

Lelouch closed his eyes, swallowing the lump that had risen in his throat and refusing to consider the possibility that she might not be. The only response he could give was a stiff nod, and then the screen went black.

"I'm sure she's fine, my Prince," Jeremiah ventured. "Her Highness is relatively obscure; they couldn't possibly know she was there."

"Get me whoever is in charge of this thing, and prepare the G-1 Mobile Base. Where's Clovis?"

"On his way to Kamine Island. There are ruins there the Viceroy wishes to inspect."

Brows furrowed, Lelouch asked, "Isn't he supposed to be conducting an attack in Shizuoka?"

"He is, My Lord. Remotely."

Lelouch made a sound of disgust, shaking his head. Had he been in any other situation, he might have congratulated himself on a job well done. The Zero ruse he'd orchestrated during the Saitama Affair made it so that his elder brother wanted a piece of the action as well, but didn't want to be anywhere near it while it happened. The result was that Zero would be able to operate more easily without Prince Lelouch having to be under his older brother's eye all the time.

But now? Now, when he most needed someone beside him…

When the face of the Japanese Colonel appeared on his screen, the Prince had just barely collected himself. With practiced cool, he asked after their demands. The response made him want to laugh.

"The freedom of Japan, you say?" Lelouch wore a belittling smirk. "I'm flattered that you think I have that kind of power. Sadly, I do not. Feel free to take it up with the Emperor, though."

"In that case," the gruff Colonel Kusakabe said, completely ignoring his last statement. His English was awkward and heavy on his tongue. "We demand the withdrawal of Britannian forces from the following areas…"

When the video feed was cut off, he allowed his already crumbling mask to fall away and dropped his head into his hands. This was too dangerous a situation to merely sit back and wait. He needed to be there, in the very thick of things! He needed to save his sister!

Think, Lelouch! What do you have at your disposal?

The entirety of the Britannian army of Area 11. Countless knightmare frames, including an advanced experimental prototype. Aircrafts. Soldiers. Japanese guerrilla. Desperate resistance fighters.

Lelouch's head shot up.

It was a testament to just how shaken up he was that it took him so long to remember that. Prince Lelouch had no place here; only Zero would suffice.

He took a moment to listen for footsteps then, when he was sure Jeremiah wasn't rushing back, pulled his private cell phone from his breast pocket. This was reserved for terrorist activities only, equipped with a voice modulator that gave him Zero's metallic tone.

One ring, two, three. Pick it up, witch! Four, five.

"What is it, boy?"

"Where are you?" he asked in a whisper. The urgency was evident in his voice, but even so she remained as infuriating as she'd always been.

"In a decrepitwarehouse in the middle of nowhere. Where you last dumped me. Where else would I be?"

"Do you remember where I told you to park that transport?"

"Yes."

"Go there. Now. Then wait for Ohgi's group. I'll tell you where to go after that."

"Mm. Understood.Anything else,Zero?"

"Yes. Record what I'm about to say. It's possible I won't be available for a while and if that's the case I'll need you to act in my stead."

"Very well," There was a brief pause as Lelouch tried to piece together what he needed to say, when he heard C.C. sigh. Against his better judgment, he asked, "What is it?"

"… I suppose I won't be able to eat pizza in that precious suit of yours, will I?"

Lelouch stared at the phone in disbelief, trying to figure out if she was being serious. Then, deciding she was, he chose to ignore it and instead cleared his throat, "Lelouch. We meet again."

---

The scene shifted from the beautiful hotel exterior to show a cramped little storage room where the terrified Britannian hostages were huddled together, trying to shield themselves from their captors' hateful glares. There were women and children there, was her first incredulous thought. Innocent civilians! Sure, they were Britannians, but that didn't necessarily mean-

Kallen saw an orangette comforting her bespectacled friend, and beside her a blonde holding a small, frail girl protectively, and felt her stomach drop.

"The Student Council," she murmured. "Milly, Nunally…"

She could see Inoue shake her head in her peripheral vision. "The things men will do when their pride gets hurt," she scoffed.

"Well, I think it's a good move!" Tamaki protested loudly. "I mean, they've got that Chairman guy hostage, and all the people coming in for the Sakuradite conference make for good bargaining chips, don't they?"

"Plus, with all the media attention…"

Kallen whipped around to face Minami "But what are they trying to prove?" she asked, gesturing wildly at the television screen. "Britannia doesn't care about hostages, everyone knows that!"

Minami sighed and gave a shrug of his shoulders, "It's suicidal, never said it wasn't, but they're proving to the world that the Japanese still fight."

Whatever Kallen's response was, she bit it back once Ohgi emerged from inside. His expression was determined, but also held a fair bit of apprehension. It was the look he got when they were about to go on a mission, a dangerous one, and even Tamaki knew him well enough to shut up and listen when he got that look.

"Zero called," Ohgi said when he saw he had their attention. Kallen couldn't help but note the change in her comrades' posture when the masked vigilante's name was brought up. They grew stiff and rigid, their backs straightening, as if they were soldiers before a superior officer. "He wants us to meet up with him."

"Three guesses why," said Yoshida, nodding at the screen. It was showing a few of the distressed parents now. Kallen thought she heard the name Fenette there somewhere, and her expression became troubled, eyebrows drawing together. "You don't think he wants us to join up with the JLF, do you?"

Ohgi had evidently been filled in on the situation by Zero, or else he'd managed to get the gist of things and generally understand what was going on. He gave a slow shake of his head, although there was a frown on his lips, and said, "I don't think so. This guy doesn't seem like the type that would get along with the JLF. "

"Yeah, he's too Britannian," Sugiyama spat. No one could argue with that. Zero acted Britannian, even if he wasn't. The way he dressed, for instance, and his preference to speak in English most of the time. Of course, one could argue that it was merely for the sake of mocking Britannia, except no one forgot how Zero could get the Viceroy's personal forces to turn against him. That implied something else. It implied Zero had connections in the military, connections that ran very deep. Just because he decided to betray the Empire didn't mean they could trust him.

"Britannian or no, he still gets the job done," Inoue commented. And considering she wasn't that much of a Zero fan either (not since he dumped C.C. with them), Kallen was justifiably surprised, especially when her friend continued, saying, "And he manages to look damn good while doing it, too."

Inwardly, Kallen had to agree. The JLF were easily the biggest anti-Britannian group in Japan. They were the remnants of the once powerful Japanese army, the only ones who could honestly say they were more than just a bunch of terrorists. They were Japan's last hope… Or rather, they had been, before Zero came along. With the flourish of a gloved hand and a few well-chosen words he managed to openly defy Britannia in a way that no one had before. Zero had captured the world's attention.

Yes, their pride was hurt, she thought as she was ushered outside. This move wasn't against Britannia so much as it was against Zero. They wanted to remind the world just who the Japanese were. Even if it meant dying in the process.

---

"He wants us to withdraw?"

All movement on the bridge stopped at that single incredulous proclamation. The unusual quiet made Clovis suddenly aware of the attention he'd attracted and he quickly regained his control, slipping on his usual apathetic mask. It appeared to them as if he'd been told a rather bad joke and slowly the work resumed, leaving the Viceroy free to beckon Bartley forward and hiss his demand for an explanation.

"What do you mean, Lelouch has ordered our withdrawal?"

"There appears to be something of a hostage situation, my Lord," the General responded in a hushed tone. "At the Kawaguchi Convention Centre."

"And the terrorists have demanded our departure?" Bartley nodded and then adjusted the monocle that had slipped off with that action. "That fails to explain why we're obliging their requests, however."

Lelouch knew what had to be done. Unless he really did have a soft heart under there, which Clovis highly doubted, his brother should have no excuse not to order the bombing of that hotel. It would be an easy matter to pin it on the terrorists, especially these Japanese with their honourable suicides and whatnot.

"Princess Nunally is among the hostages."

Clovis' brows rose and he nodded in understanding. "Ah." Of course. Lelouch was utterly obsessed with his little sister. It was endearing sometimes, but often worrying. Just what lengths would he go to in order to save her?

"Very well then," he said, waving a gloved hand. "Give the order to withdraw. Lelouch would never forgive me if I did anything to endanger her life," he added in an undertone.

Just as well, he thought. He wouldn't have been able to supervise the army's activities on Kamine anyway. Geass ruins were simply too important to be ignored or pushed aside for mere spats over land.

---

The door slid open with a hiss. Ohgi blinked once, his hand still hovering in the air as he was about to open the door manually, but recovered quickly and stepped inside. The transport's interior was overwhelming. He'd known just by looking at it from outside that this was no ordinary run-of-the-mill vehicle, and that made the lavish furnishings a little less of a shock. Of course, compared to what he was used to, even the most mundane of Britannian accommodates would seem luxurious, but this...

"Whoa, look at the size of that T.V.!" Tamaki quickly scooped up the remote and made himself comfortable on the plush couch. "We've gotta get ourselves one of these."

"Well," Yoshida began as he picked up an ornate vase to examine it. "We could always sell some of this fancy stuff. Think Zero would mind?" He took a few steps, tossing the vase from one hand to the other, until Kallen snatched it from him and carefully put it back in its place.

"Speaking of Zero, where is that guy?"

The man was nowhere to be seen. Ohgi wondered briefly if they'd come to the wrong place, but no, Zero had been very precise with his directions and he'd followed them to the letter. "I don't know," he told them, "Maybe he left instructions for us somewhere?"

"Tch, arrogant bastard," Sugiyama remarked snidely, only to jump out of his seat when, barely seconds later, he heard the trademark metallic voice of their supposed-leader.

"Welcome," he said, having appeared all of a sudden at the top of the stairs. He was slowly coming down the steps, his cape sweeping behind him. "I'm glad to see such a quick response. The situation at Kawaguchi has become dire."

"So what, are we siding with the JLF or are we against them?" Kallen asked bluntly, coming to stand at the foot of the stairs. She found herself staring at her own purple-tinted reflection as Zero gazed down at her.

"Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe has involved innocent civilians; I cannot forgive that. Our first priority will be the safety of the hostages."

"And just how are you going to get us inside?" Inoue crossed her arms over her chest. "You saw the news. The Britannians have the place completely surrounded. You don't happen to know another secret tunnel, do you?"

"The Britannians will let us in," he replied, eliciting several gasps and even a laugh from Tamaki, who seemed to think the man was joking. Zero walked past Kallen, and their eyes followed his every move until he sat down gracefully behind a table. "Hear me out, and I will tell you my plan. All will become clear then. But first, are you truly prepared to join forces with me?"

"What, like we haven't alre-"

He cut Sugiyama off with a word. "Permanently."

A shocked silence settled over them, and for a while all they could do was stare at Zero. They realized, somewhat belatedly, that they'd considered Zero their leader for a while now, even Sugiyama and Inoue who weren't too fond of him. He was too efficient, too brilliant not to acknowledge. They'd already trusted him with their lives not once, but twice before; first in Shinjuku then in Saitama, and in both times Zero had produced results even if not outright victory, which was more than any of them could have accomplished on their own.

Almost as one the resistance members turned to Ohgi in askance. "Naoto made you our leader," Kallen said, speaking for them all. Her voice was low, reverent, as it always was when the subject of her older brother came up. "What do you think?"

Ohgi hesitated. His eyes went from one member to another before finally resting on Kallen, whose bright blue eyes reminded him all too much of their deceased comrade. Naoto was the leader here, he was the one in charge, he was the one who held it all together. Ohgi had never wanted it. It made him feel guilty beyond measure, that he would shun the obvious trust Naoto had placed in him, but truth of the matter was he was tired of being responsible for his comrades- no, his friends' lives.

When his eyes found Zero, they were shining with determination. The masked man had one leg crossed over the other, an arm slung over the back of the couch. His posture radiated confidence, and Ohgi thought the man already knew what their answer would be.

"We'll do whatever it takes."

---

He had one leg crossed over the other, and his posture radiated confidence. Even so, Jeremiah could spot his Prince's tension in how he gripped the arms of his throne, and he could spot his fear. It made him feel a painful tug at his heart. He understood his Prince's frustration, his helplessness, as each one of their attempts to infiltrate the hotel was shot down. If only there was something he could do.

"There is only one route that will allow us to develop a possible hostage rescue plan," General Lucas Myric pointed out. The screen behind him morphed to show the hotel's blueprints, highlighting a tunnel that lead to it in red. All bridges connecting to the hotel except for the main one had been destroyed, and it was the main one that currently held their forces, clustered behind the hotel's gates.

"The main utilities tunnel runs directly beneath the convention centre hotel. Basically, we would go in through this route, destroy the foundation block and submerge the hotel." Prince Lelouch's fists clenched, his brows furrowing as he considered what was possibly their only option. "Since the tunnel was also built to handle supply deliveries, it should be able to accommodate Sutherlands."

"They'll have anticipated this," the Prince said, a frown pulling at his lips. "The JLF won't have left that opening unchecked."

"Even if the enemy have taken precautions they've been using sub-standard weaponry, so we'll have no trouble evading them."

Having no other choice, Prince Lelouch allowed the knightmares to be lowered into the utility tunnel. They watched as the Sutherlands sped through, as one of them reported the likelihood of Knightmare rifles and instructed them to spread out, and as the Sutherlands were taken down mere moments later by the JLF's unknown weapon. The General gaped at the screen while the Prince merely regarded it with an indifferent expression.

"What do you think that is, Jeremiah?" he asked at last, gesturing at the grainy image their Sutherlands had managed to capture before their untimely demise.

Jeremiah took a moment to observe the picture. Mounted upon the shoulders of four Knightmare frames was one of the largest cannons the Margrave had ever seen. Apparently, the Elevens weren't as backwards as most thought. "It appears as though they've modified Glasgows into a linear cannon, my Lord,"

"It wiped out three Sutherlands in a single shot," The Prince's tone was flat, surprising the Generals on deck. "We won't be able to break through."

"What do we do now?" One of them exclaimed. Jeremiah didn't bother to hide his disgust at how easily the man lost his cool. How did he ever rise to his position? "If we release the political prisoners as they demand-"

"We've given into enough of their demands," Prince Lelouch stated, rising from his throne. "If we give them any more, the next thing they'll ask for is the complete surrender of Area 11!"

It seemed a preposterous thing to ask in exchange for a few hostages, especially since both parties knew those hostages would likely be dying anyway even if the Britannians did give into the JLF's demands. But for his sister, Prince Lelouch would trade the world. They had been fortunate so far in that Kusakabe didn't know just how valuable his hostages were, but how long would their fortune hold out?

Forgive me, my Empress. Once more, I have failed you.

---

The surface of the water was disrupted yet again as a pebble plunged through it. It still did nothing to help Lloyd Asplund's frustration. He heaved a sigh and fisted another pebble to toss.

"I've already asked them if we could help," he said in reply to his pilot's question. "But we're in a regular unit and they don't acknowledge our chain of command. Besides-"

"It's too risky to entrust the operation to an Eleven, is that right?"

Lloyd gave a humourless laugh. He threw the pebble and watched as, this time, it skipped over the water a few times before sinking through. It seemed this Suzaku wasn't as clueless as he'd have them think. Optimism, then, was what drove him. He knew how Britannia worked yet stubbornly ploughed through all the same- it didn't say much for his intelligence, but then brains weren't what piloted the Lancelot, were they?

"Prince Lelouch claims to have more liberal views, but Britannia's national policy is discrimination against numbers after all."

"So the Japanese still aren't being accepted enough into your structure," the young Eleven said, his face set in a stubborn frown.

"If that were true, then what point would there be in even having the Honorary Britannian system?"

"Why, Cecile, you mean you don't know?" The scientist gazed up at his assistant with wide, deceptively innocent eyes, the effect of which was offset by the appearance of his usual wry smile, "For cannon fodder, of course."

---

"Knights for justice, huh?"

"That's what he said."

"What do you think he means by that, anyways?"

"I dunno, but he sounds determined."

Yes, he did sound determined. He always did. And somehow, some of that determination, that infallible conviction always managed to rub off on her. Zero believed in his cause, and he believed in his ability to make the impossible happen.

What was more; he made them believe it as well.

"You are no longer a mere resistance group!" he'd told them, and she thought she'd never heard him sound so passionate. "What we are, what we're trying to be, are knights for justice!"

Justice. Such a nice dream.

The explosives were ready and packed in small inconspicuous boxes. It would be up to Minami, Yoshida, Tamaki and Ohgi to make sure they were all planted in accordance to Zero's instructions. She and Sugiyama were to guide the hostages down to safety, where Inoue would be waiting with their 'ride'. Just what said ride was had yet to be revealed; Kallen suspected Zero himself wasn't sure yet.

"Hey, there's an extra uniform in here!" Tamaki called out, holding up the black jacket for them to see. They were all wearing identical jackets, their supposed new uniforms as Knights. Black knights serving their black king.

"Looks pretty small," he observed as he held it against his own frame. "Think it could be for C.C.?"

Kallen couldn't imagine the enigmatic woman as Zero's follower, for some reason. She was with Zero, but not as his subordinate. It was almost as if… "Say, where is C.C. anyway?"

Sugiyama shrugged, "She just left. Wouldn't say where she was going, but that's hardly new. Now then, how do I look?" He was trying on his visor, another part of their ensemble, and she was pleased to see that it hid most of the face rather well.

Her lips twitched in a brief smile and she replied, "You look like a Knight."

---

Not even Lelouch, with all his usual composure and stoic indifference, could hide his revulsion as he watched a repeat of what the JLF dubbed as their 'warning'. The man fell from the top of the building with a blood-curdling scream, only to be silenced when he shattered –yes, shattered- on the asphalt. He could hear Jeremiah's horrified whisper of, "Barbarians!" beside him and inwardly agreed.

When Kusakabe appeared on the screen again, he wore a self-righteous smirk. Lelouch shot him a disgusted look and mentally modified his plans. Instead of geassing the man to follow him and join Zero, he would die. It wouldn't reflect well on Zero to have Kusakabe in his ranks, or anyone from the JLF who belonged to his mindset for that matter. Such an animal wasn't worthy.

"Our demands have gone unanswered," he said.

"We've answered part of it," Lelouch protested, just barely managing to keep his voice down. "You should at least be willing to negotiate."

Kusakabe looked down at the Prince with raised brows, his expression patronizing and Lelouch clenched his fists. "Very well, here are our terms: release our compatriots or we'll throw a hostage from the roof every thirty minutes until you do."

Where are you, C.C.?

"For the sake of the hostages, negotiations better be in good faith."

As soon as the feed cut off, Lelouch left the bridge in a hurried stride. He had always been a rather composed individual, occasional fake-tantrums aside, but waiting on the edge of his seat for hours on end while Nunally was in the clutches of these barbarians was agitating him.

If C.C. has followed my instructions, they should be arriving any minute now.However, if they refused-

Nonsense, they wouldn't have refused. He was only asking out of courtesy anyway, so they didn't feel as if they were roped into the matter later on. It would have been their own choice.

Even something as inane as a flat tyre could ruin everything, he thought, checking his watch again. But the witch would call me if anything went wrong, if only for the chance to blackmail me into buying her more pizza.

He felt a vibration in his breast pocket, and his hands flew to answer the phone just a split-second before he realized this was his personal phone, not the one for terrorist activities (even though they looked identical), but the one his siblings and those few he considered friends called on. Clovis, he thought. Probably wanted to check up on him.

However, when he pulled his phone out, it wasn't Clovis but the name Gino that flashed at him from the screen. "Hardly the time, Gino," he muttered, but Lelouch decided to answer anyway, knowing that the blond was too damn persistent for his own good.

"Your Highness! It's Zero!"

And Gino was all but forgotten in the Prince's scramble to meet with his alter-ego.

---

"Guess he's busy." The blond shrugged and closed his phone, having received the voicemail for the third time in a row. He couldn't bother to leave a message. There wasn't much to say, anyway. Nothing urgent. Just a 'Hi. Long time, no see.' Maybe they could hang out together for a bit like old times, that was if His Highness wasn't too busy for that too.

Lelouch never let anyone forget his lineage, always spouting orders as if giving a royal decree, but somehow the fact his best friend was really a prince hadn't really hit him until after graduation. Before that he was just another cadet, struggling alongside the rest of them as they completed their training- heck, he probably struggled even more, what with his tendency to drop dead after running for ten metres. And naturally, Gino would tease him relentlessly about it, until Lelouch eventually managed to get up on his own just so he could throw something at his head to make him shut up.

For three years it had just been him, Anya and Lelouch, and Gino had never even thought it could be any other way. Until they graduated. Then Anya was swept off of her feet to become the Knight of Six, Lelouch dragged off to see to his princely duties in Area 11, and Gino found himself alone and serving under his friend's scary older sister, Commander General Cornelia li Britannia. It had been that way for months now, and he'd barely heard a word from either of them. Was it too much to want to spend time with his friends?

A gathered crowd caught his attention from across the street, and Gino's curiosity (as well as mild boredom) compelled him to go investigate. After getting a closer look, he realized it was an electronics store, and he might have popped in to buy a few of those commoner gadgets he kept hearing about if not for the scene he caught on the many television screens displayed.

A man was pushed from who-knows-how-many-stories high again and again and again, each replay serving to draw gasps from the viewers and even a cry or two, until finally the scene shifted to an anchorwoman, with that now-familiar building in the backdrop.

"As you can see, the situation here is becoming more dangerous by the minute. It now appears that the terrorists, who claim to be of the Japan Liberation Front, have turned to killing the hostages unless their demands are met. We have yet to receive a statement from his Imperial Highness, Sub Viceroy Lelouch vi Britannia, who we are told is in charge of this situation."

Well, no wonder he's busy.

"So much for my relaxing vacation," he chuckled as he walked away. He finally manages to get a few days off from the Middle Eastern frontier and what does he do with them? He jumps headfirst into a hostage situation. Because there was no way he was simply going to sit back and watch and let Lelouch have all the fun. "At least I can't say it was boring."

Gino hailed a cab, and mentally cheered as he slipped into the little yellow commoner's car. That was one thing stricken off of his list! He took a moment to remember the location as written on the news then said, "Lake Kawaguchi, my good man,"

The driver looked over his shoulder incredulously for some reason, as if he was crazy or something. "Do you have any idea what's going on in that place?"

"Yup," Gino grinned. "Why, is there a problem?"

---

There he was, straight ahead. Standing tall and proud on that stolen news van, his cape wrapped tightly, almost protectively, around his abnormally thin frame. The guards above focused their floodlights on him, something that made Jeremiah scowl for all it looked as if he were an actor on stage. Zero hardly needed the incentive for the dramatics.

"Hold your fire," he ordered. If it were up to him, Zero would be a pile of ash by now- he would have been a pile of ash, if he had only been in the mobile base in Saitama when Gottwald ordered its bombing. But, as usual, his Prince was right when he said that what they'd seen had merely been a recording. By the time he broadcasted his announcement to them, he'd likely have been far, far away from the ghetto, laughing at them. "We'll capture him after he's surrounded."

Prince Lelouch's Sutherland skidded to a halt directly in front of the main road, cutting off Zero's path, and he did the same while making sure to keep a respectful distance. The news van was now completely encircled with knightmares on either side as well as dispersed foot-soldiers, and from behind the G-1 Mobile Base acted as a sufficient block.

The hatch of his cockpit hissed and opened, and his Prince stood to face the terrorist with a gun ready in hand.

"Lelouch. We meet again."

Jeremiah's blood boiled at such a casual method of address and before he could stop himself was practically leaping from his cock-pit, bellowing, "You dare speak to his Highness in such a manner!"

But his Prince raised a hand to put a stop to his tirade before it could even start, and Gottwald quieted down as ordered, but his glare didn't lessen in its intensity.

And then that bastard had the gall to laugh!

It was a deep, low chuckle that felt especially patronizing, and it only ceased once Prince Lelouch lifted his gun to that masked face. The sound of its safety being clicked off was loud in the hushed silence.

"She's inside, isn't she?" Zero said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Princess Nunally vi Britannia."

Jeremiah felt something lodge in his throat, probably his heart. How could he have possibly-? Even Prince Lelouch, after a quick glance, seemed to be barely holding himself together. He could see the boy's fingers tighten around his weapon, his hand shaking ever so slightly.

"She's inside," Zero repeated, sounding smug. "And that's the only reason you've let the negotiations run for as long as they have. You haven't been able to get in to save her. But I can."

"What are you, anyway?" the Prince demanded. "You fight against Britannia but offer to save one of its Princesses?"

"I protect the weak," was Zero's arrogant response. "Whether Japanese or Britannian. I believe Princess Nunally has already suffered enough from indiscriminate terrorism, don't you?"

The silence that followed was stifling. He could feel their eyes on them: the soldiers, the knights, even the terrorists. But above all, he could feel Zero's searing gaze from behind his mask, even if he couldn't see it. Prince Lelouch seemed oblivious to all of this, however, and Jeremiah could sense the internal battle he was currently fighting. Damn that Zero, exploiting his Highness' love for his sister in such a manner!

Prince Lelouch's words were hesitant when he asked, "Can you really?" And it was so uncharacteristic of him that Jeremiah briefly considered taking him back inside and dealing with the terrorists alone.

But his Prince was not the kind to stay down for long. It was only when the power returned to his voice and his gaze as he repeated his question that the Margrave truly realized what he was saying. As if he was considering letting Zero pass.

"My Lord-" he started, but was interrupted by the masked vigilante's response.

"I can."

"Will you save her?"

"If you allow me to pass."

There was a pause as the Sub-Viceroy appeared to think, but Jeremiah, with a sinking feeling, already knew what his decision would be. He would risk anything for the sake of Princess Nunally. Zero had won.

Prince Lelouch lowered his firearm. Jeremiah's fingers curled around the controls, ready to stand back, until the Prince surprised him once again.

"I have one condition," he announced.

"Oh?" Even Zero seemed slightly surprised, not to mention amused, by the young man's words. He didn't let that deter him, however.

"I'm coming with you."

Seeing his liege actually grip onto the tug-line made Jeremiah snap out of his shock-induced stupor, and he immediately followed suit. "My Prince, you cannot possibly- Prince Lelouch!" He was ignored, but if anything could be said about Gottwald it was that he was a persistent man. The Prince began walking at a slow and steady pace towards the news vehicle, the hand still clutching the gun held up as if to show that he meant no harm. As soon as Jeremiah's feet touched the ground he raced after him and soon managed to block his path, spreading his arms wide to stop him. "Your Highness," he said. "I cannot allow you-!"

"Allow me?" He could see the violet eyes flash in their rage, even in this dim lighting, and returned them with his own glare.

"It is my job, my Lord, to protect you. Even from yourself."

"It is your job, Margrave, to obey my every command. And now Lelouch vi Britannia commands you, stand down and return to the base!"

"No."

The Prince's eyes narrowed dangerously, his warning coming in a dark hiss as he said, "Move, or I will have you demoted for insubordination."

Jeremiah felt insulted that his Prince even thought that would verify as a threat against him. "Do as you wish, your Highness, but I refuse to allow you to throw your life away so carelessly!"

Unexpectedly, he found Prince Lelouch gripping him by his collar and yanking him down to eye-level. "And I refuse to stand by and watch as terrorists take my family from me again! Do you hear me, Jeremiah?" he roared to his Knight's bewildered face. "I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!"

And then, as if just realizing what he'd done and the kind of scene he'd made, he released Jeremiah from his grip, head bowing slightly as he walked past him with a final murmur of, "Not again."

It seemed that all of his defences, the masks he'd so carefully constructed and maintained, had finally crumbled. What Jeremiah was seeing before him was the little boy who was screaming at the top of the staircase; the little boy who clamped a hand over his mouth as he sobbed so he wouldn't wake up his bed-ridden sister, while his other hand stroked her hair comfortingly; the little boy who stormed into Pendragon Palace, demanding an audience with the Emperor to ask for the justice he so righteously deserved.

He had been denied far too many times. It was not Jeremiah's place to deny him again.

"Prince Lelouch…"

"You're in charge here during my absence," his Prince told him quietly. "If anything happens to me, if anything goes wrong, save Nunally. You have my permission to employ any means necessary, even the Lancelot."

Even so, he couldn't stop himself from giving it one last ditch attempt. "My Lord," he called to the man's- the boy's retreating back. "Why don't we try the Lancelot first? Surely trusting one Eleven is better than trusting a terrorist?"

"Nunally is crippled, Jeremiah. She's crippled and blind. How far do you think she'd be able to go before she's crushed to death under the feet of the panicked hostages as the hotel submerges?" As his knight suppressed a wince at the mental image he'd conjured, Prince Lelouch ventured forward until he was directly in front of the vehicle.

"Well, Zero?" he asked loudly, lifting his head to gaze up at the terrorist. "What will it be? Do you accept my condition?"

Zero slowly lifted his hands from beneath his cloak and laid them on the railing before him. He looked as though he were standing on a podium, readying himself for some great speech. Instead, he only said, "You are a reckless fool, Lelouch vi Britannia."

"Do you accept or not?"

The sound of clicking could be heard, and then the door at the side of the vehicle swung open and out stepped a man who Jeremiah was frustrated but not surprised to find was wearing a dark visor that concealed his identity. If Zero wore it, then why wouldn't his subordinates?

"I accept," Zero said, and his goon walked cautiously to the Prince, who handed over his gun with barely a derisive glance before striding past him to the open door of the van. He paused there and half-turned, giving a nod to Jeremiah who immediately stood at attention.

"Soldiers!" he bellowed. "Stand down! Let Zero pass!"

---

His heart was beating wildly in his chest. Lelouch would claim it was excitement or a residual effect from his performance before Jeremiah, but neither of those could explain the cold that was running through his veins. No, this was fear.

He stepped inside the stolen news van, trying to quell what uneasiness had surfaced, and focused instead on inspecting his surroundings. They wouldn't harm him, because they knew his army would skewer them if any of them so much as sneezed his way, but to appear too confident in this kind of situation was unwise. The Black Knights stood menacingly around him, each clutching his (or her, in Inoue's case) weapon and not so subtly pointing it at him. The glow emanating from the screens only served to enhance their sinister look; in the back of his mind was the dull acknowledgement of a job well done in designing their uniforms.

"Uniforms," he observed, passive mask in place. "How quaint." And then, just because the arrogance was expected of him, he threw in, "Don't suppose he wants to turn you into a real military force, does he?"

They didn't respond to his jibe, even though he could feel the hatred rolling off of them in waves. That was good. It meant they understood the gravity of the situation and could restrain themselves. Even Tamaki who, from what he'd seen so far, was the loud-mouth with the short fuse did little more than glare.

He shot a look over his shoulder, to where Minami was closing the door behind him. The rumbling of engines could be heard along with the unmistakable sound of landspinners as the Britannians moved from their path, obeying the order Jeremiah kept yelling which could be heard over the rest of the racket.

The news van began to move at an agonizingly slow pace, and he was stuck in the darkness with five Japanese people who really, truly did not like him. It was difficult to keep himself from getting impatient, especially knowing what lay ahead.

Nunally, he thought, brows creasing briefly in worry. Hang in there.

At long last, the figure of Zero descended from the top. Lelouch injected as much loathing as he could into his glare when they came face to face. He simply imagined it was his father underneath that mask. "Zero," he said coldly. "What's your plan?"

"My plan is to free the hostages, evidently," the other responded. He nearly marvelled to think that this was his own voice, returned to him from the modulator within the mask. "Your sister included, of course."

"My sister especially," he warned. "And I was hoping for a more detailed explanation."

"In due time," Zero said, and then tossed something to him. Lelouch caught it deftly and held up a jacket identical to what the Black Knights wore. "First, you must wear this. You'd stand out otherwise."

"Of course," the Prince scoffed, observing the garment. He quickly unclasped his cloak, letting it fall to the ground in a red heap, followed by his white coat and gloves. Kicking them aside carelessly, Lelouch slipped on the uniform jacket and paused, as if reaching a sudden realization. "This is a perfect fit."

To that Zero gave no response, instead telling the Japanese rebels to go up top and present a good show for the JLF. They obeyed him wordlessly, but they weren't happy about it. They refused to let this Britannian see them divided, however, so they complied.

Excellent. Everything appears to have gone according to plan.

And at last, Lelouch could breathe freely. He turned to his own alter-ego, noting in the back of his mind just how absurd that sounded, and held out his hand expectantly. Zero raised his- no, her hand to the mask, fingers arranged in a certain way to release the pressure and make the plates at the back of her head retract, until finally the mask fell into his waiting grasp. Lelouch smirked, enjoying the weight of it.

When he lifted his eyes, it was his own face looking back at him.

"These adhesive masks really are quite amazing," he remarked, taking off the Black Knights' jacket. "Too bad they can't replicate voices as well. Although, I suppose it's not so bad when you consider the possible repercussions of that."

It would have been an easy matter to Geass someone, perhaps Asplund, into making such a voice altering device for him, just as he'd built in a modulator to his Zero cell phone. Lelouch simply didn't trust C.C. enough to do that. It was troublesome to have to record everything, but it at least ensured that she couldn't stray from his script. He'd yet to decide if the witch was on his side or not.

The question of her loyalties was brought to mind again as, after hearing a certain unmistakable click, he found her levelling a gun at his head.

"I can't allow you to go in there," she said. First Jeremiah, now C.C…. Why could no one see it fit to allow him to make his own damn decisions? "You need to fulfil your end of the deal, Lelouch, so I won't have you dying before that."

"Don't you realize that what you're saying and what you're doing are contradictory?" he said, gesturing to the weapon offhandedly.

"Oh, I won't kill you," she told him, a smirk identical to his own forming on the mask she was wearing. It was so strange, to see his face yet hear her voice. "I'm merely going to carry out your plan, just as you said it."

Lelouch shook his head. "If you were going to do that you would have knocked me out already, there would have been no need for this conversation. The fact of the matter is you can't. You're not Zero and without my voice you can no longer keep up the act."

"Then I could ignore the plan altogether," C.C. countered, seemingly unfazed. "I could simply knock you out and run."

"Once again, that action would contradict your wishes."

"Oh?"

The Prince pulled another, smaller gun from his trouser pocket, and clicked off the safety. C.C. gave him a blank look. "Do you honestly think you could threaten me with a gun?"

"Yes. Yes I do."

As he lifted the barrel to his head, Lelouch was treated with the rare sight of a very distraught witch, made even stranger by the fact she was currently, for lack of a better term, wearing his face.

"Everything I do, I do for Nunally. My plans, my revenge, my life, all of them are worthless without her." Lelouch narrowed his eyes, finger tightening on the trigger. "If Nunally dies tonight, I would no longer have any reason to-"

"Stop it! You've made your point."

A smirk flashed across his features briefly. He only lowered his gun after she'd tossed hers aside.

"I see now," she said, and he thought she sounded strangely melancholic. "She's your reason for living. What drives you forward. Without her, your life would be without purpose, and a life like that…"

---

They were instructed to park in the hotel's underground garage and wait until their escorts from the JLF arrived. Having no choice, they did as they were told, and Kallen couldn't help but note the soldiers' evident relief at their cooperation.

Just wait 'til you see what we've got in store for you, she thought with barely contained excitement. You won't be so relieved then!

Part of her wondered if they shouldn't at least try to warn some of them. The low-level grunts had no say in what their superiors did, after all. But no, that would endanger the mission. These people… They probably didn't expect to survive the day anyway.

Now all they had to do was stand around and wait for Zero and that brat to finish talking and they could get started. Frowning, Kallen adjusted her visor for the hundredth time, making sure it covered her face adequately. If Lelouch recognized her, she'd be in deep trouble. Why did Zero agree to that condition? He knew it was dangerous to have him around, even if their faces were covered, so why? Why take that chance?

From what her friends were saying, though, it seemed that Zero not only agreed to his condition, he'd anticipated it.

"The jacket's a perfect fit, he says," Tamaki told them, and Kallen guessed by his grin that he was in a Pro-Zero mood for the time being. "Bet he's scared now. Zero's got people right under his nose and he can't do a thing about it if he wants his precious sister to be saved."

Kallen had half a mind to tell him it was extraordinarily easy to get the Prince's measurements, if you knew where to look. She was sure at least half of the girls at Ashford knew. She decided to keep that piece of information to herself, however, her thoughts instead going to this Princess they were supposed to save.

Nunally. Nunally vi Britannia. Could it really be…?

And why not? Now that she thought of it, it didn't seem so far-fetched. Milly seemed like an old friend of his, and Kallen could recall many a time the Clubhouse was on lock-down for some reason or the other and swarming with guards. Then there was the way Nunally kept gushing about her brother, but never divulged his name. She never did say what her title was, exactly. Everyone just called her Lady Nunally or Nunna.

Well, if it is her, I guess I wouldn't mind rescuing a Britannian princess so much.

Because even if her brother was a pompous bastard, she was as sweet as could be, and Nunally didn't deserve any of this.

She looked up when the van's side-door opened and Zero stepped out. Alone. She was relieved for the most part, but then there was a little tiny nagging bit that wondered what he'd done to the Prince.

Sugiyama beat her to the question, asking, "And where did his Royal Highness go, then? Got cold feet?" as he craned his neck to peer inside the van.

"Sub-Viceroy Lelouch is a reckless fool, I told him as much when he gave me his condition. He would only slow us down," Zero told them, closing the door behind him. "Inoue, make sure you take him with you when you prepare our escape."

"Speaking of which," Inoue began. "How, exactly, are we going to escape? You're not going to have the Britannians do that for us too, are you?"

"You'll see in just a moment," he replied, enigmatic as always, before he walked forward to where the two JLF grunts were keeping watch. They exchanged a few words, and the next thing they know the soldiers are saluting Zero and eagerly following him back to where the Knights were watching.

"The resort keeps a few cruising yachts for the sake of its high-end clients," Zero explained, and at once they all understood. "Our friend here-" He gestured to the soldier at his left. "-has offered to show you the way. Inoue, take the news van. We may still have some use for it."

The dark-haired woman nodded and, with a wary glance at her supposed guide, went to the front of the van. Zero turned to the rest of them with his remaining instructions, going over his plan once more, until they reached the subject of the hostages.

"The hostages are located on the hotel's middle floor and are supposedly locked inside a storage room," he informed them. From within his cloak he produced a picture and handed it to Kallen, who nodded, her thoughts confirmed. Nunally Lamperouge's soft smile greeted her from the glossy surface of the photo, her eyes closed as always and long mousy hair flowing around her. Beside her knelt Lord Lamperouge or, as she now knew him to be, Lelouch vi Britannia. Her brother. He was smiling in a way she'd never seen before. Not smugly, nor fake and saccharine sweet to woo the masses, but softly. Genuinely.

"You must ensure her safety at all costs."

Sugiyama looked down at the picture from over her shoulder and groaned, "Is that a wheelchair? Don't tell me we have to carry her the whole way too!"

"I'll carry her," Kallen stated. "She's just a little girl. Even if she is a Britannian Princess, she doesn't deserve this kind of treatment."

Zero gave a slight, barely perceptible nod of his head. Kallen liked to think it was in approval.

A shout alerted them to the arrival of their escorts from the JLF, and she quickly hid the picture inside her jacket. The soldiers were armed to the teeth and tried to put on a tough act for them, but it was clear that they were apprehensive. Kallen barely suppressed a smirk at the thought. Why wouldn't they? This was, after all, the infamous Zero. Zero, who stood before Britannia and challenged it loudly, in front of the world. Zero, who had already made it perfectly clear he could kill the Princes at any time he wanted, but spared them so that they could live in their shame. Zero had appeared at their doorstep, and they had no idea what he was planning.

… or did they?

"Take me to Kusakabe," Zero ordered, modulated voice echoing in the empty garage. "You will ignore my companions. I came here alone."

They nodded and saluted him, just like the others, before they resumed their act and cautiously surrounded him. As per his orders, they hardly seemed to notice her or her friends. Kallen gaped at their retreating backs, incredulous, and asked, "They're with us?"

Zero didn't respond, having disappeared around a corner with his escorts –subordinates?- from the JLF.

---

Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe had broken his promise. He'd said that if they stayed quiet and obeyed his orders no harm would come to the hostages. That was a lie.

Approximately twenty minutes ago a man, just an ordinary person, no different from the rest of them, had been dragged off. He hadn't even protested much as they hoisted him to his feet, pushing and shoving him all the way. The man hadn't been back since. It didn't take a genius to know why. In fact, it seemed their genius was the only one who didn't really get it.

But then, Nunally surmised, Nina had probably been too busy trying to block this entire ordeal out.

She heard the bespectacled girl gasp all of a sudden and whisper, as if just realizing it, "An E-Eleven." Nunally grimaced, hoping their guards hadn't heard her, but knew she was out of luck when that stench assaulted her sensitive nostrils again as one of the Japanese soldiers whirled on them . "What did you say?" he demanded.

Nina cowered into Shirley's arms again, and the Princess extended a hand blindly, trying to reach her, to comfort her.

"We're not Elevens!" the man yelled, "We're Japanese, dammit!"

Milly quickly pulled her hand back, trying to hold Nunally into herself again as if to protect her as she sharply responded, "Yes, we're well aware of that. Just lay off of her." Nunally shook her head. She wanted to tell her friend that she didn't need the coddling, in spite of what her brother might say. But more than that, she wanted to tell her to just be quiet and let it pass.

"Then correct her! We're not called Elevens!"

Don't give them any reason to antagonize us further, Milly, please!

Her plea must have been evident on her face because Milly didn't speak up. It was Shirley, this time, who rashly answered, "Fine, we'll correct her!"

Shirley, no…

It was so unlike her. Then again, with her friends in danger and tensions running high perhaps it wasn't so strange for Shirley to get a sudden boost in courage. It had become obvious to the hostages that it was unlikely they lived through this ordeal so, at the very least, they would die with their pride.

Of course, the Japanese soldier was hardly going to stand for that. "How dare you speak like that to me?" Nina's frantic wails were loud in the small room. "You three, come with me to the next room and I'll teach you a real lesson!"

Nunally sensed movement beside her; a panicked rustling of fabric, hard boots on the concrete floor. It wasn't until he repeated his demand, this time snatching Nina up –"Let me go!" she cried, desperate- that the implication truly sank in, and Nunally's heart leapt into her throat. Her young features twisted in disgust and horror. She'd been told that soldiers could be uncouth, that they could do unspeakable things, but this… this was too much.

"Stop it!"

"Stay out of this, little girl," the man growled, sending a mocking laugh her way as soon as she laid eyes on her. "Unless you'd like to join them."

She felt Milly's grip on her arm tighten but shook it off as she presumably faced the guard, brows furrowed in determination, "I order you to stop. Unhand her!"

"Just who the hell do you think you are?"

A whisper, from Villetta, "No, my Lady, please!" She ignored it.

Brother, give me strength.

Rolling back her shoulders, her chin raised proudly, she tried to summon her most commanding voice as she said, "You're addressing Nunally vi Britannia, princess of the Holy Britannian Empire."

---

Gino couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. Beside him, Lord Jeremiah buried his face in his palm, shaking his head.

They were alone on the bridge of the G-1 Mobile Base, Jeremy having thoughtfully dismissed the Generals as soon as Gino showed up, shouting for "Lulu" to come out and play. He refused to leave even after being told that his Highness (with extra emphasis on the his Highness part) wasn't currently available, saying he'd wait, and overall just nagging the staff until at last Jeremiah grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to the bridge before, as he said, someone decided to shoot him.

Works every time, Gino thought.

Except Lelouch really wasn't on the bridge, on his throne, where he was supposed to be. Instead, Jeremiah here was telling him Lelouch had run off into the building, with a terrorist no less.

"Oh, and all these years we thought you had no sense of humour," Gino said, laughter still lacing his voice. He wiped a few tears from his eyes. "That's a good one, Jeremy."

The man shot him a glare so venomous that it stopped Gino's hand mid-motion, about to slap him on the back.

"I assure you, Lord Weinberg, I am not joking."

The blond merely blinked at him for a few moments, eyes wide, until finally he said, "You mean to tell me Lu really did throw himself into the middle of a dangerous hostage situation with a known terrorist, no less?" At the slow, slightly exasperated nod he received in reply, Gino jumped out of his seat, suddenly panicked. "Is he crazy, or something? What the hell did he do that for?"

"The Princess."

Gino snapped out of his panic for a second, looking around, "Oh hey, that's right, where is she? I haven't seen her in a while."

Jeremiah's loud, frustrated sigh drew his attention back and he looked at the man expectantly. "The Princess is the reason Prince Lelouch behaved so recklessly," Jeremiah explained between clenched teeth. "She's with the hostages, and that bastard Zero took advantage of it."

"Oh…" And for a while, that was all Gino could say on the matter. Crazy generally ran in the family, was what Lelouch would often say, and not always in jest, but if that was the case he could hardly blame him.

He recalled clearly the first time Lelouch's sisters came for a visit. The Prince hijacked the Academy's PA system and announced, in an eerily monotone voice, that any boy who dared to approach either of his sisters, whether Euphie or Nunally but especially Nunally, without his permission would be disposed off slowly and painfully. He then spent over half an hour describing, in vivid detail, just what his punishment would entail until the instructors finally caught up with him and cut off his broadcast. Lelouch was made to walk the area* for sixty hours for that stunt, but the damage had already been done, and he hardly seemed to care. Judging by the smirk that would curl at his lips when the other cadets leapt out of his path, it was worth it.

Even Gino, Lelouch's best friend (no matter how much the boy would vehemently deny it), wasn't exempt. He did get to hang out with Nunally occasionally, but there was always that unspoken rule to adhere to: You touch, you die.

(Oh, C.C., what's this? I didn't know you had a thing for bondage! Good to know you're being creative with my boy, at least.

I do not have a bondage fetish, you-

If you say so, sweetheart. Anyway, what's going on? I thought you were going to shoot him in the leg. Now I see you're bound and gagged in the back of the truck, dressed as Lelouch no less, and watching some woman studiously stomping on… What is that, anyway?

A little gift from Jeremiah. Apparently, he likes to play parent to that boy of yours.)

A shrill beep broke the tense silence and Jeremiah, face betraying a look of utter terror, raced to one of the screens. As Gino came beside him, he could hear the Margrave muttering, "No, no, no," over and over again under his breath as he slammed at the buttons almost frantically. He could see a little red dot, presumably the source of that annoying beeping sound, in what appeared to be the building plans of the hotel.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, but he received no reply.

Jeremiah inhaled deeply through his nose, his eyes closing briefly before he pressed a few more buttons. A smiling face suddenly appeared on the screen, and the man greeted them with a cheerful little wave. "Hello, Jeremiah," he said. "Got any good news for me?"

"Prepare your little toy, Asplund. It's running decoy."

"It's not a toy!" Asplund whined, and Jeremiah immediately closed the video feed. He slumped into a chair, visibly exhausted, and ran his gloved fingers through his hair.

Frowning, Gino took a chair beside him. He didn't like the looks of this. "Jeremiah," he said, causing the man to look up in surprise at his grave tone. "What happened?"

"I had a tracker on Prince Lelouch," Seeing Gino's questioning look, he explained, "He's had a tendency to disappear these past weeks, so I had Asplund here construct a minute tracker for me. Today was the first time to try it; I slipped it on his person this morning and have been monitoring his movements closely ever since. But now… now the tracker's been destroyed."

"It could just be that he found it and destroyed it himself, y'know," Gino suggested, and Jeremiah nodded.

"Yes, but somehow I doubt he's had the chance to rummage about his pockets in this kind of situation."

Well, with Lelouch, you never really knew.

"Whatever the case, I must assume the worst." It was final. As far as he was concerned, Lelouch was dead until proven otherwise. Gino watched as the older Britannian rose from his seat, looking grim and even a bit scary, and felt his stomach clench in what was now a familiar anticipation. He got to his feet so that he could meet Jeremiah's eye and stated, "I want to help."

Jeremiah gave a wry grin and gestured for him to follow.

---

Kusakabe had taken one of the hotel's prime suites as his headquarters, transforming what had once been luxurious accommodation into a small fortress. He now sat alone on the plush couch, hands resting on the katana he had propped in front of him, while his soldiers flanked him at a suitable distance with their assault rifles on the ready. The only light in the room came from the open windows, and even that was dim. Lelouch expected it was supposed to give a foreboding feel, and he was reminded of the Black Knights' same tactic with him not minutes ago in the news van. He was not impressed.

"So, you have no intention of joining me?"

"I believe you've already spoken to Urabe. Didn't he already tell you as much?"

Zero gave a slight inclination of his head, "Yes, but I wanted to give you one last chance."

The soldiers frowned at his insolence, but Kusakabe remained admirably calm, even managing to fix him with a cold glare. "You're very arrogant, aren't you, Zero?" he said in a condescending tone. It was not a question. "I don't like arrogance. It reminds me too much of those big-headed Britannian Generals, shooting nonsense about inferiority and surrendering to the might of the Empire." The Colonel's upper lip curled back in disgust, even as he looked the revolutionary up and down, sizing him up. "Come to think of it, you're probably a Britannian yourself."

Lelouch ignored the accusation, knowing it would hardly be the last time he received it. Instead he decided to ask a question that he was honestly curious to know, even though he already had inkling as to what the answer would be. "Tell me, Kusakabe: what exactly do you hope to accomplish by this action?"

"Gain attention," he answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I want this country and the world to know that the Japanese aren't dead yet."

But they will be. Quite soon. By now, 60% of the mission conditions should be complete.

"How stale," The disdain was evident in his voice, even with the metallic distortion granted by the modulator. "You people are obsolete. There's no saving you."

One of the soldiers started forward, bristling at the insult, but was put in place by his Colonel's intervention. Lelouch was reminded quite suddenly of Jeremiah. His gaze, hidden by the mask, wandered to the open window where he could just barely make out the flood lights at the hotel's gate. Behind that, he knew, was the Mobile Command Centre, where Jeremiah would be dutifully overseeing matters while inwardly he was dying to jump into his Sutherland and race after him. But he wouldn't. He would stay, because his Prince ordered him to.

Kusakabe drew his gaze back when he spoke again. "Explain what you mean by that, Zero." He was doing a very good job of hiding his rage, Lelouch had to admit, but it wasn't quite good enough.

"Your methods are outdated, useless," he clarified. "You've wasted your lives chasing after an abstract idea of honour and the shadows of your past. People evolve, nations evolve, and yet you strive to bring back what you call the glory of old. You will never free Japan. But then, you already know that, don't you? And so you want to bow down on your own terms. I could have respected that, even commended it, if not for the fact you're dragging dozens of innocent people down with you."

"No Britannian is innocent. They came here to enjoy a nice, peaceful weekend while our countrymen suffer in the ghettoes. Their lives are built upon the deaths of our men; it is time that they pay."

Underneath his cloak, Lelouch's fists clenched tightly. It is you who will pay, Kusakabe.

"And then what? Then Britannia will retaliate, and your precious countrymen will be eradicated. More meaningless deaths. More killings. The cycle of hate continues."

"Remove that mask and reveal your real face to us. Perhaps I will be more inclined to listen when I'm sure you're not actually a filthy Britannian."

"Ah, but what if you were right?"

This caught him off-guard. Kusakabe gaped at him openly. "What?"

"I am Britannian. In fact-" Here, Zero lifted his hand to his mask, slowly so as not to alarm them, and splayed his fingers over its gleaming surface. They heard a faint hiss, and then a few clicks as the plates in the back of his head retracted, and Zero raised his head, eyes closed. There was another mask, this time of cloth, covering his mouth and nose, but when he opened his eyes Kusakabe recognized him at once.

"You-!"

"That's right," he said, pulling down the cloth mask to reveal his underlying smirk. "And now that you know who I am, I'll ask you to address me with my proper title. Eleventh Prince and Sub Viceroy. A simple Your Highness will also suffice."

"I will never submit to Britannia!" Kusakabe leapt up, drawing his katana with a yell. Unfazed, Lelouch faced him and uttered a single word: "Die."

He found the sight of blood soaking the carpet to be quite satisfying. Even more satisfying was when Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe, his blade poised and ready, proclaimed, "Yes, Your Highness!" before plunging it into his gut.

Several more of such proclamations were uttered by the remaining soldiers, followed by gunshots and a splattering of blood. In a matter of minutes, Lelouch was the only man standing. He couldn't stop a grin from forming, even as he wiped a few stray droplets of blood from his cheek.

Now, to check on the rest.

The door suddenly swung open with an alarmed cry of, "Colonel!" revealing yet more JLF soldiers to subdue. Lelouch quickly held his mask up before his face, his other hand whipping out his pistol. The soldier's shock served in his favour, allowing Zero to shoot him in the shoulder.

"Calm yourself," he ordered, staring the grunt down. "The Colonel and the others committed suicide when they realized how meaningless this operation was."

Bewildered, they could do nothing but stare. Lelouch pursed his lips, annoyed, until he caught sight of the worried face of the very person in whose name he had just murdered.

"N-Nunally," he choked. She was carried by one of the soldiers, and he found the sight of her clutching at the front of his uniform to be maddening. She was afraid. He waited until he put on his mask properly before he stepped forward, noting how they inched away from him. They were afraid too.

"Hand the princess over to me."

The man didn't even hesitate to come forward, holding Nunally in front of him as if she were a peace offering. Unexpectedly, she turned to face him, a frown marring her soft features. "You're Zero, aren't you?"

"That I am, Princess. But there's no need to worry." Big brother's here, Nunally, I'll keep you safe. "I will do you no harm, I promise."

"That's the same thing Kusakabe promised," she retorted, and he was taken aback by her biting tone; his hands actually faltered. She had never spoken to him that way. He was her brother, her beloved, doting older brother. Her Lelou.

But she wasn't talking to Lelou, she was talking to Zero. Zero, who was a terrorist, who had vowed to stand against everything her family stood for. That in mind, he managed to wrap his arms around her small frame and gently pick her up. "I assure you, I am nothing like Kusakabe."

He looked up to find the remaining soldiers had seemingly overcome their bewilderment and were now openly glaring. With Nunally in his arms, shooting would be difficult, and they knew that. What was more, shooting just felt wrong with her in the vicinity.

Ah, but I have another weapon in my arsenal.

The panel covering his left eye slid open. "Stand back. You will not harm me or the Princess in any way."

Killing also felt wrong, but there was no need for that as the men simply saluted him and stood back, as ordered.

Only one phase left. If they are on schedule, I should be meeting the Knights very soon.

He strode down the corridor in a brisk pace, cradling Nunally to his chest protectively.

"Why are you saving me?" she asked eventually, and he felt a small measure of pride at how even her voice was. No longer scathing, she nonetheless had a certain steel in her words.

"Why were they taking you to the Colonel, Princess?" he asked in return. There was no way they would have figured out who she was on their own, which could only mean that she had told them; Villetta and Milly would never have done it. "You were standing up for your friends, weren't you?"

"I may be disabled," she began quietly. "But I'm still a princess. It's my job to lead the people."

"Even the commoners?"

"Especially the commoners."

Lelouch chuckled lightly, "There's your answer, then. I'm saving you because you are a prime example of what royalty should be. If Britannia was ruled by someone like you, I would have no reason to fight."

He rounded a corner, heading for the staircase, only to find himself facing the barrel of a gun. The clicking sound was obviously now familiar to Nunally, for she shrunk away from it slightly, and Lelouch held her tighter. "You shouldn't wave that thing around so freely, Tamaki," he reproached, glaring at the red-headed buffoon from under his mask.

"Whoops, sorry boss!" the buffoon said, grinning sheepishly. "Can't be too careful, with all these JLF guys running around."

Zero merely walked past him and he fell into step immediately, but not at the respectful distance of a subordinate. It annoyed Lelouch immensely. "I take it your mission was a success?" he asked, pushing his annoyance away. These people weren't commoners, they were worse than commoners. He could expect no less.

"Damn right! Pipes, vents, staircases- just like you said. The other guys have already gone on ahead to the meeting point."

He nodded in acknowledgement and began to descend the stairs, only to feel a slight snag. Looking behind him, he found the idiot had stepped on his cloak. "Ahem."

"Wha- Oh!" Tamaki practically jumped back. "Oh man, sorry Zero."

"Go down ahead of me," Lelouch ordered, exasperated. "Make sure the coast is clear."

The idiot grinned and leapt ahead, making a grand show of checking for enemies at every corner. Lelouch studiously ignored him, focusing instead on formulating his speech for the final phase. It hadn't been his intention to use this disaster for propaganda –truth be told, he could hardly think straight at first- but C.C. had taken a news van and it would be a waste not to make use of it. Whether this was foresight on the witch's part or simply dumb luck for him and the Black Knights, he didn't care to know.

His heart was beating painfully against his ribcage after only three floors down, and he was already panting, though he tried to hide it. To show weakness in front of one of his subordinates, and such an incompetent one at that, was unacceptable. It was bad enough Nunally could hear it.

Only four more floors to go, he consoled his burning lungs.

---

"Whoa!" Gino exclaimed, watching the white and gold knightmare shoot out of the water. The screen in front of him streamed with the Z-01 Lancelot's logistics as fast as his Sutherland's computer could manage. All he could do was gape at it, until Jeremiah barked his orders to stand by and get ready. Having destroyed the linear cannon, all that was left was for the Lancelot to destroy the hotel's foundation as well, and then they had a small window of time in which they could race inside, grab the hostages then run the hell out. Perfect plan!

A burst of green light streamed out of the Lancelot's giant gun ("I have got to get me one of those," he muttered), then another and another, and they all hit their mark. The building began to tremble, slowly sinking under.

"Alright, men, this is our chance! Now!" Jeremiah yelled, already racing ahead in his Sutherland. Gino was close behind.

All of a sudden, there was an explosion. No, a series of explosions! He watched, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, as the hotel began to collapse and before he knew it he was dashing forward, screaming at the top of his lungs.

But it was too late.

They were gone.

Goddamnit!

He kept going regardless. Because he was Gino Weinberg and he did not give up.

He was dimly aware of someone calling his name. For once, his lips were drawn into a grim line and his blue eyes were narrow and steely as he regarded the crumbling edge of the bridge. He could always jump over to the other side. The Lancelot had done it, so why couldn't he? However, the dust and smoke made it hard to see just where the other side began in the first place.

Gino was forced to stop and wait, staring intently at the gray cloud ahead. There was still a possibility of someone being alive under that rubble (buried alive, he thought, suppressing a shudder) and every second counted, but it would do them no good if he ended up falling into the water.

And so he watched and waited.

A white yacht appeared from the clearing dust like a ghost ship, slicing through the black waters. Relief washed over him and he could have smiled, if not for the dark figure he saw standing on its deck.

"Is that…?"

Yes, there was no doubt about it. News of the audacious terrorist who publicly challenged Prince Clovis was far-reaching, even where he had been stationed, in what was now known as Area 18.

Gino's fingers clenched the controls, angry that this terrorist had survived where others, innocent people who were much worthier, did not. He was probably the one who bombed the place, as well.

"Jeremiah, what should we do?"

"Stand down, for the time being," came the reply, though the older man was obviously as incensed as he was. "Zero has something up his sleeves. He knows he won't make it out here alive otherwise."

Jeremiah proved to be right when, mere moments later, they caught sight of lifeboats. Dozens of little orange lifeboats floating alongside it, scores of Britannians saved. Gino was excited as he zoomed in, examining the faces on each of the boats, until finally he found the one he was looking for.

"YES!" he exclaimed, punching the air only to wince as his fist collided with the top of his cockpit. Not one to be put down, Gino quickly opened his hatch and practically jumped out, shouting, "She's alright! She's alright, Jeremy, did you hear that?"

Nunally was fine. And where there was Nunally, Lelouch was sure to be close behind.

He could see Jeremiah standing in his cockpit as well, but the man still seemed a bit subdued. "He's here," Gino stated. "Somewhere. I'm sure of it."

Zero's metallic voice echoed to them from over the water. In spite of himself, Gino found himself drawn to watch this vigilante at work.

"My dear Britannians," he said, and for the first time Gino noticed the many cameras on the yacht's deck. "Have no fear. All of the hostages from the hotel are safe and sound. I, Zero, return them to you unharmed."

"Of all the brazen audacity," Jeremiah growled. "Just as I said. He's using those people as hostages."

Suddenly, the yacht's floodlights were turned on, revealing Zero's dark-clad companions. The two at either side of him had their heads lowered, right arms folded in front of them in the mockery of a bow.

"People! Fear us or rally behind us as you see fit. We… are the Black Knights!"

"Black Knights?" Gino snorted. "Terrorists, fighting against Britannia, and they're calling themselves knights?"

"Zero has ridiculed everything Britannian since his first appearance," Jeremiah said. "I'm hardly surprised."

"We of the Black Knights stand with all those who have no weapons to wield, regardless of whether they are Japanese 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. We cannot stand by and allow such cruelty to be carried out, just as we have fought against the slaughter of countless unarmed Japanese in the ghettoes. 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!" Zero threw the right side of his cloak back, extending his arm. "Those of you without it: rally behind us!" He extended his left, as if beckoning them. "We, the Black Knights, shall stand in judgment of this world!"

---

Kallen's heart was racing in a way she'd never even thought possible. A million different emotions were coursing through her body, excitement and pride being the foremost. Pride swelling inside her chest, so much she thought she could burst at any given moment.

She cast her eyes over to the inflatable lifeboats, wherein the hostages were all floating to safety. The Britannians were on the other shore, waiting to take them home. The Black Knights had performed their duty here, they'd saved the day. Just like Zero had promised.

Even so, she couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt at the JLF soldiers, now buried beneath the debris. Most of them had been killed before the explosion anyway, but there may have been some they'd forgotten. And then a thought hit her: Did Zero pull his men in the JLF out? Kallen shook her head, shaking away the thoughts. Of course he did! They'd probably snuck out at the beginning, since they couldn't very well escape with the Britannian hostages, and it wouldn't look good if they suddenly popped up with the Black Knights.

"It's time we take our leave," Zero announced, and he gestured for Inoue, who was behind the wheel, to veer to the left. "Our role here is done."

"Hey, what about our little guest here?" Ohgi asked, pointing over his shoulder to the stairs that led to the lower deck. There, Prince Lelouch remained unconscious.

"I say we keep him hostage!" Tamaki suggested. To that, Sugiyama nodded his approval, but Kallen disagreed.

"We can't save them then go kidnap their prince; it would send the wrong message!" Zero didn't discriminate between Britannians and Japanese and he wanted to make that clear. Snatching Prince Lelouch and running off with him contradicted it, as well as everything he'd just said. The Prince had surrendered himself to them so they could help him find his sister, and they had. Taking advantage of such an opportunity felt wrong.

"We're knights for justice, right? And Lelouch has a whole lot to answer for."

"Kallen's right," Zero interrupted, making them quiet down. Kallen practically glowed. "It would be unseemly. For now, we shall declare a truce."

No one argued with him, so Zero announced he would go and check up on their guest.

Moments after he disappeared downstairs, they heard several thuds and the sounds of a struggle, and then all of a sudden Lelouch emerged, wild-eyed and visibly enraged. Zero's calm words came from behind him, telling him she was safe, but he appeared beyond reasoning.

Gun in hand, he whirled on the nearest person he found, who just happened to be Ohgi. Ohgi immediately held his hands up in surrender, even as Minami and Tamaki picked up their rifles and took aim.

"You terrorists! You fucking terrorists! You deceived me!"

"We did no such thing," Zero was slowly ascending the steps, his cape just barely brushing against them.

"You knocked me out, you bastard."

"For your own good."

Lelouch's eyes never left Ohgi and his gun remained pointed at his head. Slowly, he was regaining his calm, which was not a good thing. This was a man who was used to murder, she thought, and marvelled again at how he could be Nunally's brother.

"If you'll kindly look over there-"

"Not a chance."

Zero continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "-you'll find Nunally and her friends safe and sound. There's not a scratch on her, I assure you."

The Prince didn't respond, but Kallen could see the first signs of cracking. All he needed was one more little push. Before she could stop herself, she was blurting out, "Milly and Shirley are with her as well. On the lifeboat."

"How do you know about Milly?"

She froze. Oh god, if he figured out who she was… "I-I heard the rest of the hostages calling her that," she quickly lied. "A blonde teenager, right?"

Swallowing, Lelouch nodded and ventured a glance at the lifeboats far away. In a second, Minami had kicked his gun out of his hand and pushed him against the railing. She was more than just a little surprised when the prince fought back, and found he wasn't half bad.

"Get away from me, you damn Eleven!"

Finally Lelouch, after a well-delivered knee to the gut, managed to scramble away from Minami. Zero raised a hand, and no one went after him. Lelouch, breathing heavily, just looked at him for a while, until eventually…

"You saved her?"

"I did."

The Prince nodded, what Kallen supposed was his form of thanks, because god forbid that spoiled brat ever said thank you. Next thing they know, he was jumping over the railing and into the water with a great splash!

For a while, all they could do was stare after him in bewilderment, until Zero's chuckle broke the silence. "All the better. I would have preferred not to turn back, and he's saving us the trouble." He turned away, his cape cocooned around his body again. "You should rest. This has been a long day."

They gladly obliged, with Yoshida making a great show of stretching. Kallen was as tired as the rest of them, in body at least, but she kept watching as Lelouch, in his white dress-pants and silk shirt, swam through the water with almost vicious determination.

"Hey Kallen," That was Ohgi. She blinked, breaking out of her reverie, and turned to him. "Something wrong?"

"No, not really. It's just…" Stealing one last glance at the water before she left, Kallen murmured, "I can't help thinking about Naoto, all of a sudden."

---

A/N: It annoyed me so much in Zero's original speech that he kept referring to the Japanese as Elevens. Elevens, Lelouch? Really? So I took the liberty of changing it. It was just off to me, even if he was addressing the Britannians. The rest of the speech, however, was completely filched from Episode 8 of Code Geass, as well as several bits and pieces of dialogue here and there. You should know how I work by now.

*Walking the area is a form of punishment I picked up from the United States Military Academy. It entails walking a certain number of hours in a designated area of the cadet barracks courtyard in full uniform, back and forth. Small misconducts, such as being late for class, can get as few as 5 hours, while bigger ones, such as Lelouch describing methods of torture over the Academy's PA system, result in much more severe punishments. Fun fact: did you know that the Unites States Military Academy's football team is called The Black Knights?

Anyway, my finals are over at long last and summer is here! Which means what? Yes, that's right: updates! I won't give you a definite date for the next chapter, but I can at least assure you that this wait won't be nearly as long as the last.