A/N: Ok, first of all, I am so so sorry I couldn't update this sooner. School has just been killing me lately, and I haven't really felt in the mood to write. If you've ever written anything, you might understand how sometimes you just don't feel like writing. Other times, I can't stop writing, and I look up and the clock says it's the better part of the early morning.

This story is now coming to a close, and for my next one, I'll try my hardest to provide short and quick updates to my story while retaining its original content. Yes, you read that correctly. This is going to be the final chapter of Phoenix Rising. If you've followed this story since chapter one, or even before that from my first story Amnesiacs Anonymous, I truly do thank you for supporting this story.

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Chapter 14 - The Third Code-bearer

...

"That's our signal. All units, move in!" Tohdoh yelled.

"Squadron One, engage target. Execute offensive maneuver Tango-Alpha-one."

"Squadron Four, provide support for Squadron One. Take the left flank. The Ikaruga II will proceed behind Squad One to give long-range support."

Two fully-armed squadrons of Knightmare Frames flew out of the Ikaruga and sped toward the Dark Phoenix's flagship. They must have also seen something, for they were also sending out their own Knightmare Frames, the custom-built 10th generation Phoenix class Knightmare Frame. These new Knightmare Frames were all equipped with Energy Wing flight systems like the Guren S.E.I.T.E.N. Eight Elements and the Lancelot Albion. Their primary weapon consisted of a VARIS II rifle, an upgraded copy of the Lancelot's signature weapon. They were also equipped with a prototype self-regenerating steel endoskeleton that would heal itself if left undisturbed for a short period of time. This was to be the trump card the Dark Phoenixes would play in the upcoming battle.

"I'm counting at least fifty Dark Phoenix Knightmare signatures." Chiba called out from her Knightmare at the front of the formation.

"We outnumber them!" one of the squad members exclaimed.

"Don't get too cocky. That would be-dammit!"

A VARIS projectile flew past the squad, and the squad members quickly created a hole in their formation to dodge the explosion.

"That was close!"

"Too close, if you ask me. Spread out and prepare to fire the Gefjun net!" Asahina yelled to the rest of her squad.

"Moving to sector Alpha-two."

"Moving to sector Gamma-seven."

"Moving to sector Echo-one."

"Moving to sector Delta-four."

"Moving to sector Alpha-five."

"Wait for my command."

The steady stream of Phoenixes continued on their course, unaware of the Knightmares that would begin launching Gefjun Disturbers. They could not deploy the nets too early, otherwise the Phoenixes would see the trap and its effectiveness as a surprise weapon would be negated.

"All units are in position. Deploy!"

Each of the five Akatsuki Knightmare Frames launched a small cluster of Gefjun disturber nets, each of which would compose one of the five points in the pentagon-shaped Gefjun Disturber net. The incoming Phoenixes would then be deactivated by the net, to fall to their doom. The net was vast, and stretched a total of two hundred meters in width and three hundred meters in height.

A cluster of Phoenixes could not maneuver out of the way in time, and were caught by the Gefjun net. Their Knightmares suddenly shut down upon passing through the web of disturbers, proceeding to spin out of control while plummeting to the ground below. The rest of the Phoenixes realized their comrades' mistakes, and were keen to avoid the web.

...

"Lelouch, you can't do this! I know Nunnally is your sister, but-"

"C.C., she is the only family I have left. I can't ask Suzaku to be Zero for me. Not this time." Lelouch reached for Zero's cape, which hung on a hanger. As he fastened it to his costume, he was flooded by a sense of deja vu. Hundreds of times had he worn the uniform of the Knight of Justice, and hundreds of times more he had considered abandoning the title. It was for his friends and family he might have left behind Zero's mantle, but now it was for his family he took it up once more, as the resurrected Demon of Britannia.

"This time is different." he muttered as he fastened the cape with a deep violet colored brooch pin.

"Nunnally doesn't even know you are alive! I'll bet she gave up on your survival a long time ago."

"Why does that matter?"

"Think, Lelouch. She still believes that you died for the good of mankind. What will she think when you show up alive?"

"I think she would be rather pleased, don't you think?" Lelouch answered dryly.

"Maybe she would be happy, maybe she wouldn't. But what happens when she learns you're a cursed immortal who won't be able to grow up and die beside her? What do you think she will feel then? Do you think you could live like that?"

"It seems like I already am living like that. The bottom life is this: Nunnally's life is in jeopardy and I'm the only one who can save her."

"Arrogant, as usual." C.C. scoffed.

"But also correct."

"There are other ways to save her."

"Such as?"

"I'm not the tactician, you are. Regardless of the availability of any other option, you can't do this. You're too attached to the world, and that's a dangerous thing for an immortal. How do you think I became like this?"

"I wanted to detach myself from the world, but you're the one who dragged me back into the Black Knights to become Zero again!"

"I didn't plan on you throwing your life away like this!"

"What would you have me do? Stand by idly and watch as the last of my family is destroyed by the game of politics?"

"She won't be devoured. She will be safe in their custody. They need her as a living hostage. They can't kill her; she is far too valuable a hostage to even harm."

"So you're asking me to leave her there, gambling her life on the probability that they won't harm her because she is too important? They already tried kidnapping her, so there's no telling what they might try."

"Once they figure out who you are, they will do terrible things to you. Your identity won't be protected anymore. They will find out you have a Code and when they do they will torture you like they did to me. I can't let you go through that."

"I can't let them have Nunnally! The memory of losing her to the FLEIJA is forever burned in my mind. I couldn't bear to lose her again, not when I could've done something about it! This is my choice, dammit!"

"But your choice doesn't just affect you, it affects those close to you as well."

"Don't tell me you actually care about what happens to me."

"What did you say, Lelouch?" C.C. asked, offended. "You're asking me whether or not I actually care about you? Answer me this: Why do I risk my life for yours? Why did I risk my hopes being crushed when I already believed you were dead? Why am I still here with you, even after you failed our contract?"

"I was under the impression that you were using me from the start." Lelouch stated darkly.

"That's not true...and you know it!" C.C. yelled back.

Lelouch's retort quelled any further sharp remarks from the witch, though perhaps with too much effectiveness. C.C. was no longer glaring at him, but her eyes were filled with guilt and sadness. Guilt at the memory of how she threw away Lelouch's life in an attempt to rid herself of her curse, and sadness at the realization that Lelouch still held this against her. He tried to make eye contact with her, but as soon as he did, he felt as guilty as she looked, as if all of her emotional pain had somehow transfered to him in a simple gaze. He looked away quickly.

"If you think I don't care about what happens to you, I won't try stopping you from rescuing Nunnally."

"C.C., that's not what I-"

"It's alright, Lelouch. I can't blame you for thinking that." C.C. laughed dryly. "For a while, other than just trying to keep you alive, I thought I didn't care about you either."

"But you do care now?"

"We're partners, aren't we? Witch and warlock. We have to watch out for each other, because we're all we have." C.C. answered cryptically.

"Should I consider that a yes?" Lelouch asked.

"That's up to you to decide, Lelouch. Do you care?"

Deafening silence quickly fell upon both of them. Unable to reply, he stood there for several moments while C.C. flopped onto and sank into the sofa, clutching Cheese-kun to her chest, with only her eyes peeking above the forehead of the giant yellow plush. Her eyes gazed at a non-existent stain on the carpet floor, lost in thought. Lelouch slowly walked over and sat beside her, leaning forward with his elbows propped on his knees. The mask of Zero sat uncomfortably between his hands. He sighed deeply and gently set the piece of headgear down on the table. He finally spoke.

"That's your new wish isn't it? To have someone who actually loves you and cares about you?"

"I didn't say that." C.C. laughed softly.

Lelouch got up and straightened out his costume. He extended a hand to C.C., who looked at him curiously.

"I propose a new contract between us, between a warlock and his witch. As partners, nothing will be able to separate us. Not even the flow of time or any powers of man will be able to keep us apart."

"Those are the terms, but what am I accepting?" C.C. asked playfully.

"My love." was Lelouch's answer.

C.C. laughed. "Not bad for your first contract. I accept, Lelouch."

She stood up and held out her hand to grasp his. Suddenly she threw her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. Lelouch was stunned to say the least, but found himself replying in similar fashion. She was his witch, and he was her warlock. While the world around them would change, their contract would not.

...

The metallic hammer clicked back as the firing pin readied itself. Zero froze as he realized the pistol was pointed directly at his head, the barrel touching the helmet. Malcor smiled viciously before he spoke:

"Before I kill you, let's see who's actually under that mask."

Malcor found the release latch on the side and activated it, removing the back panel of the helmet. He grasped the sides of the helmet and proceeded to yank it off of Zero's head. As a mess of raven black hair settled, and he found a pair of haunting violet eyes staring back at him.

"Ah! So they sent me the decoy instead? What a surprise! I was skeptical when Creed told me he found the dead Demon Emperor, but now I can see him with my own eyes. So is it true, that the former Emperor possesses a Code?"

"That's none of your concern." Lelouch growled.

"Of course it is."

Malcor whirled around and crashed the back of his heel into Lelouch's temple, sending him sprawling to the floor, the mask of Zero clattering away. Lelouch scooted backwards with his hands, glaring at the threatening barrel of Malcor's pistol.

"But soon enough, we will learn how to efficiently duplicate the powers of the Code, so you won't be necessary anymore. Wonderful, isn't it? You won't be hunted. That is, once we've had our way with-"

A loud gunshot cut through the din of the raging battlefield in the background, interrupting Malcor's plans. He roared in pain and jumped backward, clutching his arm that bled profusely. His pistol flew out of his hand as another bullet caught him in the chest. Lelouch turned his head and found C.C. walking forward while casually pointing a pistol at Malcor's writhing form. She stopped her advance once she stood next to Lelouch. Raising the weapon slightly, she pulled the trigger once, twice, three times, before she began to haphazardly empty the entire contents of the pistol magazine into Malcor's twitching body. The muzzle flashed brilliantly with each gunshot, casting curious looking shadows on the walls surrounding them. She continued to squeeze back on the trigger, but it only produced a hollow clicking noise with each repetition. She reached into her pocket and produced a second magazine, but Lelouch held her arm back.

"C.C.! I think that's enough. Save your ammunition for the rest of them."

C.C. lowered the smoking weapon, but continued to switch out the magazines. Every action was deliberate and mechanical. The empty magazine was carelessly dropped to the floor where it clattered to a stop.

"That wasn't the plan, coming back to save me. You were supposed to-"

"I know what I was supposed to do, but I thought we were supposed to look after each other. Come on, we need to get to the generator level if we want to cripple the ship."

Lelouch smiled as his witch, no, his partner, grasped his hand and pulled him to his feet.

...

"A-group, move to sector Echo-14. C-group is getting flanked."

"On it!"

A pack of Knightmares peeled away from the main force and headed in the direction of the C-group, where there was a mass of explosions and laser fire. An incoming missile quickly divided the pack as the Knightmare pilots swerved out of the way, careful as to not crash into each other.

"A-two, take point with your Radiant Wave Shield!"

"Shields online."

"Cluster missile pods firing!" one of the pilots shouted out before an angry barrage of missiles screamed out of their containers, heading for the area with the largest concentration enemy Knightmares. While some of the Phoenixes were able to deploy countermeasures or dodge the missiles entirely, most were not as lucky, colliding with the volatile projectiles.

"Ikaruga, fire Hadron cannons at the coordinates I am sending you on my mark." Kallen punched in a long string of numbers before relaying the position to the Ikaruga. A large stream of Phoenixes had focused their attention on the incoming wave of Black Knights and quickly switched targets. They approached the squad but were intercepted by Hadron cannon fire, disintegrating the metal skeletons of their Knightmare Frames.

"Is that all you got?" Kallen taunted loudly.

...

Lelouch and C.C. continued down the corridor, killing all who stood in their way. Alarms were blaring all around the airship, announcing the presence of the intruders. These sounds were ignored by the two as they ducked inside the main generator room, where they began their work.

"In order for our plan to succeed, we need to destroy the alternate power lines before we shatter the Sakuradite crystal inside the Blaze Luminous. Otherwise the backup lines will begin to modulate and there will be no way of knowing where and when to disable the power," Lelouch explained as he pulled out a brick of plastic explosive.

The Blaze Luminous was spinning at a blinding rate, and Lelouch felt nervous as he approached the deadly device. Although he would not die, he surmised that getting sucked into the whirring reactor would not be a pleasant experience. He carefully planted the explosives around the power lines surrounding the generator while C.C. took care of the alternate power lines.

"The explosives are all ready. All we need to do is—gah!"

C.C. cried out as she slumped to the floor, unconscious. Lelouch whirled around to see what was happening, and was shocked to see Malcor standing in the doorway to the generator room, a pistol held loosely in his hand.

"Malcor! How the hell are you still alive?" Lelouch growled angrily as he brandished his own pistol. Malcor's response was an arrogant chuckle.

"How indeed? You think you are the only ones who can defy death and spit in its face? Are you really naïve enough to believe that you two possess the only Codes of immortality in existence?"

Lelouch gaped at the thought. Was it possible that Malcor was telling the truth, that he too possessed a Code? That would mean there was a third Code in the world. That, or the Dark Phoenixes had developed a way of resurrecting the dead. At this point, it could have been either option.

"Now, Lelouch, why don't you calm-"

"Back away, or the whole ship goes down!" Lelouch threatenned, raising his pistol higher while holding the detonator in his other hand. Malcor, however, paid no heed to his actions.

"Come now, Lelouch. We both know that won't work. C.C. had to trigger her side of the explosions first in order for this to work, right? You should really break the habit of announcing your plans to the world before you actually execute them. Or you might try whispering." Malcor quickly scooped up the detonator that lay beside C.C.'s still form. He threw it against the wall, where it shattered to pieces. Lelouch took his opportunity.

In the split second that Malcor was not looking directly at Lelouch, Lelouch clicked back the hammer on his pistol and fired a single round directly at Malcor's head. While he probably would not permanently die, it would definitely slow him down, giving him enough time to get C.C. to safety before manually detonating the explosives. The bullet flew out the barrel, pointed directly at Malcor's head. It halted, but not because it had made contact with his skull, but because Malcor was holding out a hand towards the bullet, the symbol of Geass glowing on his palm.

"What the-!"

Malcor closed his fist and the small bullet shattered into tiny fragments. He laughed at Lelouch's reaction and tossed aside the pistol, spreading his arms out wide.

"Why don't you try again?"

Lelouch continued to fire round after round at Malcor, but each time the bullet stopped before it could touch him and shattered. His magazine clicked empty, and Malcor's palm stopped glowing.

"You look surprised. Don't you know how to wield your Code? Or did C.C. tell you that all Geass powers are absorbed and destroyed once you accept a Code?"

"I may not understand the full power of the Code I bear, but she did teach me this!"

Lelouch knelt down and slammed his hand onto the ground, and sent his shock images flying toward Malcor using the metal wires as a conductive medium to channel his shock images through. He saw the blue and green sparks make contact with his body, but Malcor wasn't even flinching. Malcor laughed maniacally as he held out his palm in front of him. The glowing shock images that surrounded his body seemed to be absorbed into his hand, which began to glow even more brilliantly than before.

With a yell, he extended his palm toward Lelouch, and a white beam of light knocked him backward as the shock images rebounded.

"Clearly, she did not teach you enough."

Lelouch lay still on his back, his mind under attack from the shock images he had tried to send Malcor. Though he felt only semi-conscious, he could still see everything going on around him. The last thing he could remember was Malcor standing over his body gloating before raising a pistol and firing.

...

A/N: Epilogue coming soon.