Code Geass is the property of Sunrise, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure belongs to Hirohiki Araki

====Ohgi====

Once, there had been a good man with a dream that was simple, noble, pure and too far off in the distance to ever be obtained. That man believed in that dream with all of his heart and inspired others to follow him in reaching for that impossible dream.

Then he'd died, but the dream did not die with him. It didn't even die when - inexplicably - he came back as a zombie with all of his buried wicked traits dragged out to the surface.

This was it, Naoto. No more waiting. No more trickery or treachery, no double bluffs, no more mutual enemies. It was time for the dream to become reality. Your real dream! The dream of peace and equality, not the dream of violence and suffering that undead form had forced you to follow!

Today something else would return from the dead. A nation. A country. A people's pride! But it would not be some shambling ravenous undead that fed on the flesh of the living. No undead nation here but a true full resurrection!

"Black Knights!" Ohgi said, knowing that everyone on the Ikaruga's bridge now felt the same determination and confidence that he was feeling. He lifted his head and looked out across the landscape. This was a little sooner than they had intended, but here they were anyway. "Spread out the front line. Don't let them get around us."

"We've received word from Zero," Diethard said. Zero? She wasn't meant to contact them unless something was amiss. Ohgi put his hand over his mouth to keep himself from saying anything, instead turning to Diethard to ask the question without saying a word. "She reports that there are Knights of the Round within the Area."

"Hrm?" Rakshata quirked an eyebrow. "Knights of the Round? How many? Which are they?"

"Unknown," Diethard said. "If there are Knights of the Round on the battlefield, they might require a substantial alteration to our plans. They're not regarded as the best in the Empire for nothing, and heaven help us if Sir Bismarck is present."

Diethard had a good point there. Steeling himself, Ohgi lifted his head high and his hand from his mouth. "Tamaki, Kaguya. Continue with your original instructions," he commanded. Those instructions being: Sow havoc among the front lines with their Stand powers. "If you see a strange Knightmare, do not engage. Request backup immediately."

"Keh! Am I supposed to be satisfied with that?" Tamaki moaned, as always.

"Please don't complain at a time like this," Kaguya said. Everyone had been surprised when she said that she wanted to be out there, using her power to help in any way that she could. Nobody had the heart to turn her down. Especially as they sensed she wanted to make up for her compelled actions by the flesh bud. "We all have to do our part to liberate Japan."

"Kallen. The Britannian warship over the eastern power station is an eyesore."

"Consider it gone."

"Tohdoh, Xingke: I want you to search out the Knights of the Round. Either eliminate them, or keep them too busy to interfere."

"To think I'd have the opportunity to face them," Xingke said. Yeah, that's right. He was a bit of Knightmare pilot enthusiast, wasn't he? "How exciting."

"Don't get starstruck at a time like this," Tohdoh warned, disciplined as ever.

"Everyone else, your instructions stand as they are!" Ohgi instructed the rest of them with rising confidence. That's right. He might not have Zero's charisma or Naoto's charm. But he didn't have to. Not at this point. It didn't matter if he believed in himself. When he was surrounded by so many dependable people that was all that really mattered.

"Fast as lightning, don't let them rest or regroup, force them out of their lines and into the open, that's our... "

Chapter 65: Dominant Strategy

====Euphemia====

The bustle of activity within the command centre was like a scene from a waking nightmare. All around her there were officers milling around. There was chatter, there were lights on consoles. And her in the middle of it all feeling like she was drowning.

"It looks like they have some weird new Knightmare model."

"Sir Bradley wants to know where Zero is. Any sign?"

"Mind our southern flank. They're trying to draw us east and leave us vulnerable there."

It was all moving a touch too quickly for her to digest. She felt like an ornament placed in a garden of machines. While they got on with the work, she sat there looking pretty. Meanwhile, people out there were fighting and dying and getting hurt in her name. Including Suzaku. And maybe Suzaku's friends as well. How did Cornelia deal with it all?

Cornelia... Where was she now? Was she safe? There was never any answer to where she had vanished to. It was hard to believe that anyone could keep hold of her against her will for very long, so Euphemia held out hope that soon there would be some good news. About her. About Nunnally and Lelouch as well...

"Your highness?" a General interrupted her thoughts. "I just received a report: Shirley Fenette is claiming that your brother Lelouch vi Britannia has given her vital information that could save Area Eleven. If it were anyone else, I might order them thrown in a prison cell, but..."

But she's known to the military. Trusted by Royalty. The real question wasn't what she knew, but rather who she knew. In a sense, much like Euphemia herself.

Euphemia stood up. "Where is she now?"

"Being escorted to underground bunker number 3."

"Then that is where I shall go as well," Euphemia said, firmly stepping towards the door. "Whatever information she has may prove to be nothing, but if it brings a quicker end to this conflict..."

"Have no fear, your highness," the General saluted. "The Area is in capable hands. We'll have those would be invaders cast out of our land in no time at all!"

Somehow she doubted it would be that simple. Euphemia walked out of that room with her head held high - and the second the door closed behind her felt rather dizzy. It was as if she'd crossed over from one reality to another. In there, the intensity and the pressures of war. Out here, luxury and comfort. The Princess took a deep breath. What did it say about her that she was more use out here than in there?

Perhaps that it is easy to seek peaceful solutions when you don't know how to wage war. Perhaps that she was a coward. Perhaps that she had no real special talent to rely on. Perhaps her attempts to stand up for herself were futile.

Perhaps the Knight of Ten was right. She was too soft hearted. Too nice to do anything that mattered.

Euphemia arrived at the bunker before she even knew it. There were armed guards on the outside. Euphemia clenched her fists and gave them their instructions: "Leave," she said. "After you switch off the power to the room. No security cameras, no listening in. This is a private conversation."

"Y-Yes, your highness!" the guards saluted and set about it. That order probably didn't sit well with either of them, but under the circumstances...

Deep breath. The door was pulled open and the room was near pitch black. Euphemia hesitated, that nagging voice of self deprecation whispering again in her ear: Did she really think this would accomplish anything? If you've judged this wrong, then you're putting yourself in even more danger. Not just you. Suzaku as well as everyone else in the Area might be killed or hurt or, somehow, worse if you say the wrong word at the wrong time.

Then she stepped inside the room and those whispers fell aside, as Euphemia's compassion stepped to the forefront. Indeed, Shirley Fenette was in the dimly lit room. Pacing around, wringing her hands. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, her brow furrowed in concentration. All the telltale signs of...

"Are you alright Miss Fenette?" Euphemia calmly asked.

"O-oh! Euphemia! H-hi there, your highness - I mean hello! Oh, gosh! I'm sorry, I'm still not used to addressing Royalty!"

One might think that Euphemia had calmed down for any number of reasons. Had she felt as though Shirley was a reflection of herself? Had she felt ridiculous after seeing this other girl so nervous? Or had she pulled herself together because that is what is expected of Royalty?

Of course not. Euphemia li Britannia was a rare breed on this Earth. She was someone who thought long and hard about others, and even when she was thinking about herself it was in the broader context of how she could best help others.

"Please, don't worry about that now. Though I am surprised to see that you're this nervous." Euphemia closed the door and stepped into the room. "After all, you've faced down more dangerous people than me. Haven't you, Zero?"

It was a strange thing watching her like this. The nervousness drained out of her, the furrows on her brow flattened out and this awkward girl suddenly transformed right before Euphemia's eyes into - well, into a superpowered vigilante.

"We have much to discuss, Princess of Britannia," Zero said. "To begin with, the terms of your surrender."

====Anya====

For as long as she could remember - No, that was the wrong way to phrase this. Let's try that again. Memory cannot be trusted. Memory is a product of a person's senses, and it is so very easy to deceive a person's senses. For evidence: The existence of magicians. Entertainers who specialise in deceiving your senses to make you think that the impossible has occured before your very eyes.

Anya had gaps in her memory. Big, prominent gaps. One had happened earlier today, in fact. One minute she was having fun with that nice Earl and his assistant. The next, she was standing in the middle of a street hearing a news alert about an incoming invasion. No 'memory' of what happened in between the two.

Conclusion: Memories are unstable and fleeting things. The only thing that mattered was the here and now.

"Big mistake flying by yourself!"

Ah. It seemed as though she had uncovered the enemy. This was not the time to dwell on her issues with the past when the present was an obvious life or death situation. That is to say, life or death for the dozen or so UNF Knightmares bearing down on her.

"Annihilate," Anya coldly remarked. Then pulled a trigger with the same attitude she would use when turning on a light. All four of Mordred's cannons burst into life firing red streaks through the air that sliced through the enemy formation. "No need to record," she announced. That was something she only ever said when something had absolutely no value to her.

"Lady Alstreim! We greatly appreciate your assistance on this battlefield. However... Could you please be more mindful where you fire those attacks? You almost hit a power plant."

"That was no good...?" Anya asked. She had destroyed the enemy of Britannia. Right? Wasn't that the main thing that mattered? A console in front of her beeped. A new enemy was approaching. Only one unit this time.

"Do I have your attention, Knight of Six?" the new enemy pilot yelled. Really now. According to her memories everyone tended to yell on the battlefield. If that was true, then why? Did they think she could not hear them? "Come at me with everything you have! I'm eager to test my skills against a Knight of the Round."

Well if that was what he wanted then she was all too willing to oblige. It was only polite. Mordred's shoulder mounted cannons folded out into a much larger weapon that sat in front of the bulky red Knightmare's chest. The sheer size of it alone should give anyone with half a brain pause for concern, and they would be well right to be. This was no ordinary energy cannon. This was, in some ways, the energy cannon. To have the Stark Hadron Cannon aimed in your direction was to offer a handshake to the grim reaper .

"I may or may not have heard similar sentiments previously," Anya said. The Stark Hadron Cannon fired, and a large red burst of energy shot out with a ridiculous destructive force. "If I recall correctly, those people died shortly thereafter."

The enemy Knightmare opened up its own chest and tried to block the attack with one of its own. "You've seen a lot of death, haven't you?" the enemy pilot asked, already dodging. Fine instincts: His own attack had barely even slowed the Stark Hadron Cannon down. "That fits the profile our agents built up about you, Knight of Six."

The fast approaching Knightmare was spinning its harken cables around so quickly they blurred into a pair of makeshift shields. Anya called up the records to identify it, just in case her memories were lying to her again:

Shen Hu. Piloted by Li Xingke. It seemed as though her memories were right this time as well, but it always helps to double check. That's how it gets you, you see. The one time you trust it enough to leave it alone, and your memories lie brazenly to you.

"Be silent." she said, opening up all of Mordred's missile silos. Of which it had many. In the shoulders, in the legs, in the hips and in the arms. A ridiculous number. All of them aimed in Shen Hu's direction.

In response to the missiles suddenly streaming after him, Xingke used his slash harkens with tremendous precision while rapidly approaching Mordred. It zipped clear through them while the Knightmare dodged any that slipped through, not that there were many. An astounding feat. She supposed.

"It's affected you, hasn't it?" Xingke asked. Shen Hu's slash harkens suddenly changed direction and made a beeline directly for Mordred. "The youngest Knight of the Round in history. What horrors have you seen? What do you have buried deep inside of you?"

Oh dear. Those electrified harkens would be quite problematic if they hit. Unfortunately, Mordred was built for overwhelming firepower. Not speed. Very well. If he wanted to see what was buried deep inside of her then he could oblige that as well.

"Flash."

Sure enough her Stand appeared. Regal and agile, it thrust out its sword and dove fearlessly forward to face the incoming harkens moments before they collided with Mordred's torso. With its fencing sword thrust out it moved so quickly that even Anya herself had trouble keeping up.

In the blink of an eye it had done something truly astonishing. It had tied together Shen Hu's harken cables into a nice neat bow.

"You have a Stand?!"

"I won't even bother recording this," Anya said. Do not make the mistake of thinking she was taunting Xingke. Nor that she was belittling him. She had simply made a decision and was announcing it out loud. Nothing more, nothing less.

Based on what her memories were telling her Shen Hu was too quick for Mordred's long range attacks to have any meaning. Which made it likely that Xingke would try to use that speed to his advantage, and try to keep her at range so he could wear her down.

Therefore: Anya performed an action that no other Knightmare pilot would against this enemy. Mordred gripped the tied up harken cables, knowing full well they could be electrified. Then it pulled. Hard.

"Strength alone won't win a fight," Xingke said. "Your side is in a losing struggle as is, but you're not fighting like it. Keep going this way, you'll get yourself killed sooner or later."

"You first," Anya said to herself. Shen Hu was pulled in by its own cables, smashing it against Mordred's Blaze Luminous. Or... No. Shen Hu had tucked its knees, landed on its feet and rolled along with the impact. While the pull had been almost entirely vertical, it had used the same general principles as 'falling from a great height'

"Unorthodox," Xingke said. Shen Hu's chest opened up, revealing its own energy cannon. At short range, directly above Mordred. "Brutal. No finesse. How will you react when I answer in kind?"

"Boredom," Anya said. Mordred flew straight up with no hesitation from its pilot. Of course, Shen Hu dodged the flying headbutt. The two Knightmares had nowhere near the same speed. Nonetheless, at this range he'd put himself in danger if he fired that cannon. "The stoic type is my least favourite."

"I don't know. You seem pretty stoic yourself."

Anya didn't bother answering with anything but Mordred's fists. Shen Hu pulled back to put some distance between them. That was fine. She hadn't even fired half of Mordred's missiles yet.

"Just as I thought," Xingke said. "The truth is, you're suffering from depression."

Anya hesitated on pushing the trigger. Only for a moment, but she noticed it. Depression? Was that the impression she gave? Never mind. According to her memory this fight had lasted longer than she would have liked either way. Anya preferred ending battles quickly.

"Armchair diagnosis is so dull." She filled the air with missiles, not really caring whether they hit their target or not. "I don't remember asking you for that opinion."

"Detached. Indifferent. Deadpan. Throwing your all into a fight while giving lip service to defence." How irritating. Her assessment had been incorrect. Shen Hu was a remarkably fast Knightmare, and even if its harken cables had been tied together it could still use its sword to deflect the explosives. Sometimes even into one another. "It's not an armchair diagnosis. I'm seeing myself, after I learned that I had no future."

"No future...?" Anya wondered what he meant by that. It did not make any sense to her. She could understand having 'no past' as it was a reality she had to live with on a daily basis. Her own past was incongruent. Inconsistent. Having no future...? That did not make any sense at all.

"I'll be dead inside a year," Xingke said. "When I found out my clock was running out I started acting recklessly. Until I found something worth spending that life on."

"Trying to build sympathy won't work with -"

Suddenly, there was a sound like thunder behind her. Flash had intercepted something that had managed to get behind her somehow. It was... Shen Hu's tied up harken cables! Could it be? That wild dodging? Not so random as it had seemed. Xingke had been moving in such a way that he could make the harkens smash into Mordred's flight enablers, which Xingke had correctly identified as her primary vulnerability. As for talking about her mental state, that must have been a distraction of some sort so she would not notice the attack coming from behind.

If not for Flash, then she would have probably lost. It seemed as though her glowing record on Li Xingke and Shen Hu were well founded. No other opponent in her records had lasted this long. Especially since she had started using her Stand.

"I think that I will record this battle after all," Anya said. "Which existence is less valid? Your future, or my past?"

"That's why you'll lose," Xingke said. "You don't understand that the past and the future are both equally vital."

And that was why Anya was certain that she would win. Her enemy had assumed that she didn't already know that.

====Shirley====

About a year ago, Shirley had been sitting in a classroom at Ashford Academy. The teacher had handed out a rather droll assignment: Aspirations for the future. What sort of career did you wish to pursue? Where did you see yourself in ten years time?

At the time her answer had been easy: Professional swimmer. Then the teacher had surprised them by asking them to come up with a backup plan. And that was when they were left stumped. The notion that they would do something else with their life hadn't occurred to most of them. In fact, the only one of them who seemed to have any kind of long term plan already in place was as certain lazy genius

Still, she had put her best effort into it the same as she always had. Maybe she'd join the Speedwagon Foundation? Yes, that seemed best. Maybe she'd wind up in a secretary role, or a receptionist. She briefly entertained the idea of travelling with her cool Uncle Joseph. But no. Travelling the world? Having a wide array of misadventures? That wasn't her! That wasn't Shirley Fenette!

If only that girl could see her now. Standing in front of an honest to goodness Princess and demanding that she surrender Area Eleven. This was probably number one or two on Lelouch's real list. Not so much on hers.

"Surrender?" Euphemia asked. The friendliness dipped out of her voice. It was really quite noticeable. She might be 'nice Royalty', but Royalty she was nonetheless. "That seems quite impetuous, especially when you started this fight."

"I thought you might understand," Shirley said. "You helped us out before."

"That was different," Euphemia countered. "The stakes were much higher, and I was acting to save lives. You've declared war when I - when Suzaku thought for certain you'd try to keep the peace. Why else do you think we did not tell anyone about this? Miss Fennete, please ask the Black Knights to retreat."

This reaction was not unexpected. Even if Euphemia wanted to stop the fighting by any cost, she could hardly do so this easily. Without just cause, all that would happen was someone much harsher from the homeland coming back around to pick up where they left off.

Which meant that whatever else happened she would need to be convinced to surrender the Area. There was a small table to her left. Schizoid Man dropped a cheap looking chess board on top of it and started moving pieces. Not in any particular pattern, just random motion.

"I don't play," she confessed. "Do you?"

"This is hardly the time," Euphemia protested.

"Lelouch always compared war to a game of chess," Zero continued. "He once told me that there are times when even a Grandmaster of chess will lay the King down. When they are certain that the position is strongly against them, and their opponent understands fully how best to exploit it... When they know for one hundred percent certainty that they will lose, they will yield the game. To save time. To save energy. To save resources."

"To save lives," Euphemia added, though hesitantly. Good. That meant she was following her line of thinking, even if she had not yet accepted the need for Britannia to surrender. "In which case, would it not be wiser for you to surrender?"

"Why?" Zero countered. "Britannia is engaged in a difficult conflict in Europe. You are being pushed back as it is already."

"We do have a large military contingent present."

"And it would take about two weeks for reinforcements to arrive from the mainland by sea. Ten hours by air at the minimum. On the other hand, we could double our presence on the battlefield within the hour. The fact is, we can keep this going longer than you can, and you really cannot afford to pull further resources away from Europe."

In a sense, this was a total reversal of what had happened when Japan was conquered. The island nation had no allies to depend on. It was technologically inferior, its military smaller, it projected its power through economics rather than strength. Compared to the sheer volume of force that the Empire could bring to bear at that time, that it could afford to focus on one objective? It was inevitable which way the tides would turn..

Japan had surrendered its sovereignty. It was Zero's hope that another surrender would bring it back.

"You can dig in your heels and make us earn every square inch," Zero said, stepping towards the Princess. "But we will earn it. In the end all that will happen is countless lives are cast to the wind. Both your side and ours. The day is already lost."

"Indeed it is," interrupted a new voice. "Though the question remains... whose day was it to lose?"

It was strange. The only noise that had been in the room up until that moment had been their voices. Even so, it felt as though the room was now a deathly quiet, as though the idea of sound was being driven out by a new presence. After a moment Shirley felt it as well. It crept along her skin like a swarm of insects. The air in the room felt a little bit denser, and her spine shot up straighter than a ruler.

A moment after this sound returned. It was a tapping noise. A wooden tap, tap, tap across the floor accompanied by a faint set of footsteps. Shirley turned around to meet the source and found an old man standing there. Staring at her and the Princess as though he were merely tolerating their presence. As though they were ants before him.

"Chancellor Brando!" Euphemia gasped. "Why are you in Area Eleven?"

====Gino====

It seemed as if their timing couldn't be better. While Gino still didn't get why Anya was so insistent on visiting Area Eleven - not helped by her claiming not to remember what he was talking about, which she always did when trying to duck his questions - he was certainly glad to be here right now. Nothing like a change in scenery to broaden your horizons, right?

"Is that a jet?" one particularly observant enemy pilot asked, moments before being shot to ribbons by Tristan's trusty machine guns. As first of the Rounds to greet the enemy it was his duty to leave them with a truly frightening first impression.

Tristan transformed right in front of a team of five enemy Knightmares. That is to say, right in front of them. Close enough that if Gino wanted he could open up his cockpit and flick one of them with his finger. Now all he needed to do was drive the point home with a cool one liner.

"It's shake time!"

To their credit the enemy tried splitting up to get around him with a decent amount of time. They tried splitting his focus while two of them got into his blind spot. Trick was, Gino Weinberg no longer had any blind spots!

The one in front of him tried firing rockets, while the two in his 'blind spot' fired slash harkens. "Is that all you got?" Gino asked, bringing together Tristan's two polearms and deftly ducking away from the projectiles. Ah, but then he had to defend himself from two rushed attacks coming in from either side, so he stabbed right through them with his polearms. "Got you."

"Got... You!" one of the impaled pilot sneered before ejecting. What did he mean? Well, when Gino had sliced through them he'd rotated his polearms around. Which meant that his weapon got tangled up in the harken cables they'd fired at him. Which was almost certainly the point of that suicidal attack.

As if this wasn't also part of Gino's plan. He continued to rotate the polearm, doubtless shocking the two pilots trying to hold him in place. Nonetheless: He reeled them in like fish caught on the line.

"His Knightmare's this strong?"

Was it his fault that they'd underestimated him? "Boys, you should know better than to tangle with a Knight of the Round." He slammed the two Knightmares into each other and bisected both of them. That left him with one, who tried to rush him and ate a slash harken for his troubles. "Now, let's see if I got the attention of one of your Stand –"

There was a bright blast of crimson energy a ways off to his left. Oho? Could it be? Why, yes it was! A certain red Knightmare bursting microwave blasts clear through their front line. Causing their Sutherlands and Gloucesters to explode, killing brave Britannian pilots in a thoroughly brutal fashion.

Time to put a stop to that. Tristan transformed into its jet form and rushed across to where the Guren was fighting. "Hey beautiful!" he yelled, judging himself close enough to change back. "I saw you on your wanted poster and wondered if it did you any justice." Tristan's slash harkens fired out, and then slammed together causing a massive energy beam to shoot out directly at the Guren's back.

It whirled around and retaliated with its own beam. Amazing. It was every bit as mighty as he'd heard. Being able to block that beam was no mean feat. The machine stacked up, now how about its pilot?

"Should warn you in advance," the enemy pilot replied. "You're really not my type."

Oh, but she was exactly his type. A tough and ready Stand user. The perfect chance to test his skills. He activated his ability and then- Immediately had to block her incoming radiant wave arm as it reached out for his head. Then just as immediately parried the knife in the Knightmare's other hand.

"Not bad, Miss Stadtfeld." Gino smirked. This was the stuff!

"That's Kozuki!"

Another lunge with her knife and... Huh, that was weird. Wasn't she supposed to have heightened reaction time through her Stand power? Don't misunderstand, she was quick as a whip but it didn't seem especially superhuman from what he'd seen so far.

"If you say so, Miss Stadtfeld!" Gino quipped. Time to back off a little, even Tristan's speed wouldn't keep up with her in a head on fight. Switching into fortress mode, on the other hand... "Was wondering why a girl like you, of noble Britannian birth, winds up turning against her country."

"Japan is my country!"

"Japan doesn't exist anymore."

"Give it a couple of hours."

Back in its jet form Tristan whirled around to put a little space in between the two of them. Not a retreat. More like he was circling around to get a better shot at her. As expected the Guren didn't seem to have much trouble keeping up with him. The girl was keeping him completely locked on without any trouble and - There we go! Hello Mister Stand, aren't you an ugly one?

"You know, Rivalz seemed pretty lonely when I spoke with him earlier on," Gino said out of nowhere, deliberately changing the topic. Bantering with the enemy always threw them off guard. "It's gonna be a real shame having to tell him I killed his friend in battle."

Woo! There we go, that pissed her off something fierce. The Stand was hovering pretty close to her Knightmare, but it had a hell of a long reach when it unwound those arms it had. At this range Gino wasn't sure how much damage it would do, but he wasn't dumb enough to give it the opportunity.

"As if I'd lose to a spoiled brat that only got in because of his prestigious family!"

"Funny," Gino said. "Bradley makes similar kinds of jokes. You're about to learn the hard way how I really got on the Rounds!"

This seemed about as far back as that Stand could hit so Gino whirled around and opened fire on the Guren from a distance. Gleipner rounds, naturally. Even if the Stand did try to block, that wouldn't do a damn thing but make it vanish.

"Lame pickup lines and officers eager to make daddy happy?"

"That's the most damage you've done to me yet. So you really think a Knight of the Round gets by on family name alone?"

Unfortunately that didn't seem to matter too much. The radiant wave was melting those bullets long before they were getting close. Gino whirled his Knightmare around again a couple more times, but she didn't have any problems following him.

Weird though. When she fired at him with her arm cannon, it felt like Gino's own reactions were a little bit faster than normal too. Weird.

"No. I think you're a naive idiot. You don't understand why people would rebel against a system that actively encourages oppressing them? You defend that government and say you don't understand why people would try to bring it down? Have you ever even talked to a Number before?"

For the first time since the battle began, Gino wasn't smiling. Without knowing it Kallen had stepped on a sore nerve for the young Knight of the Round. When he was fourteen years old, Gino Weinberg fell in love for the first time in his life. It was a forbidden love, to be sure. He was a nobleman's son. She was a maid. Serving staff.

And an Eleven.

His parents discovered their burgeoning relationship. The maid was cast from the house, and Gino had his first real argument with his parents. Following this, he left home to join the military if only to spite his parents, and then quickly rose through the ranks to become a Knight of the Round.

He never heard of what became of his first love. Gino could only hope that she found some measure of happiness elsewhere within the Empire.

"So what's the alternative?" Gino asked. Fortress mode wasn't getting him anywhere. He needed something stronger to take her on! Like, for example, Knightmare mode. As soon as he was able both slash harkens were fired out. Gotta give her something to think about while he rushed into battle like the dashing knight he was. "You don't approve of our lifestyle? So what? You gonna come after us? Force us to change our ways at gunpoint? All you're doing is perpetuating the conflict."

"Spoken like a true blueblood. You can't see beyond your ivory tower. Can't see how other people are left stumbling in the dark!"

Nor could he see anything else all of a sudden. Jumpin' Jack Flash popped into existence right in the path of his slash harkens, punching them aside right before his eyes. Leaving Gino completely blind.

"Finally," he whispered to himself while switching to the secure internal line. His fingers danced across the controls like an experienced receptionist tapping away at a keyboard. He long since didn't need to look to control it. "Look at the Guren!" he ordered, and activated his power -

Aha! Just as he'd intended: He could plainly see the Guren dropping down beneath him, probably looking for the perfect kill shot from down below. Such a shame. It was only five seconds, but for a pair of boosted slash harkens that was more than enough time for him to have that baby wrapped up tighter than his last birthday present.

"Wh-what the hell?!" Kallen yelled.

"Hey, relax! Sit tight a while," Gino shrugged. "You want me to see things from your point of view, right? You'll get your chance to tell me all about it from inside your prison cell."

"Sorry, but we've talked long enough already," was half of Kallen's answer. The other half was that ominous looking claw. She couldn't move much in his cables, but she'd twisted around enough to point that thing square at him. "You're gonna have to kill me to stop me!"

"Yeah, I had a feeling it would go that way," Gino tsked. He deactivated his power. He didn't need it anymore anyhow. He'd already checked that things were in place for him to finish this off, but no way would he be able to dodge that blast properly looking at her from beneath like that.

Kallen had opened fire like that for reasons beyond desperation. Gino could see that much plainly. It was also because she had probably noticed 'he couldn't block the attack with his energy cannon' as its components were in the harken at the same time opening fire on him like that was the worst thing she could have done as it removed her one and only defense from that same energy cannon.

Because you see, Gino had done more than 'wrap the Guren up'. He had also combined the harkens to form that energy cannon, and ensured that it was directly aimed at the Guren's back at night point blank range.

As he pushed the button that would end this fight, the Knight of Three thought back to that pretty Eleven maid he had fallen in love once again. He remembered the last time they had talked. She had been called away by his mother, and so she had turned to him and - for the last time - gave him that beautiful smile before saying a word he had never heard before.

"Sayonara," Gino said.

"And I'll counter with 'doumo arigatou'," Kallen replied with a strong hint of cheek in her voice.

Gino had no time to ponder the meaning behind that before a beam of light shot off from behind Kallen - perpendicular to her position. Eh? What? But - that wasn't possible! He'd lined up his shot perfectly, and had been using the boosters to hold the harkens in position! Even his own movement, dodging the Guren, should not have dislodged their aim!

In a stricken panic Gino activated his Geass again, and immediately cycled away from Kallen's view - settling into a viewpoint that should have been totally impossible. Hovering in the air behind the Guren. "Th-those arms," Gino gasped, attention completely drawn to the limbs extending out in front of where he could see. "Those coil-like arms, they're wrapped around the cables! When did you –"

Blast it, with this viewpoint he was completely vulnerable! He disabled the power in time to see her using that Stand to pull the cables off her Knightmare, loosening it up enough that she could wriggle free.

"I was having some trouble penetrating that thing's defenses," Kallen said. "Looks like it had some redundant systems to protect it from radiant wave attacks. No such protection from your weapon, though."

"The hell are you talking –" Gino began, but then he saw it at last. Oh. Oh! Oh shit. She had tricked him into firing on a Britannian air-cruiser! While he'd been trying to fight her, she'd been looking for a way to destroy that thing this entire time!

This experience was a crucial and humbling one for the Knight of Three. He had to recognise that this enemy wasn't just fast and talented at piloting a Knightmare. She'd been using him the entire time they'd been fighting.

"So this is a Stand battle," Gino asked, barely able to contain his frustration at being used. "Man oh man... I was looking forward to this?"

====Dio====

So this was the latest generation of Joestars? Well... Technically a Fenette rather than a Joestar. Still! Jonathan's descendant had done well for herself. Dio's heart swelled with pride on his errant brother's behalf. She had grown so much in such a short time. Her Stand lingered in the air behind her. A mighty combat type with high speed, power and precision. Yet compared to Dio's... He was sure that it was nothing compared to Voodoo Kingdom.

But now was not the time for a Stand battle. Dio had not moved today without due caution. There was nothing he would not do to ensure his own victory, and this day was no exception. He reached into his pocket to pull out a 'weapon', and then -

As expected the girl rushed forward so that Schizoid Man was able to reach him. This was fine. The Stand grabbed hold of the 'weapon' out of Dio's grip before he could do anything with it. This was also fine. The 'weapon' began to beep, but before the girl could move to destroy it, she recognised what this 'weapon' truly was.

"A phone...?" she said. Dio allowed himself a grin. There was no need for him to make use of any kind of supernatural power to defeat her. A simple phone would be enough to bring her to heel.

"Shirley, is that you? Thank goodness!"

There was something tremendously enjoyable in seeing the face of Jonathan's descendent grow ashen on recognising the voice on the other end of the call. Oh yes. Dio had initiated the call while his hand was in his pocket, fully expecting that Schizoid Man would retrieve it.

"M-Mum?!" Shirley gasped. Ah! Music to his ears. "Where are you?"

"We're alright dear! We're in a mobile base - ah, I should probably not say where exactly. Anyway, some Royal Guard came to retrieve us a little while ago, so we're in the very best of care. Where are you right now?"

"She's at the palace," the simpleton deftly took the phone out of Miss Fenette's hands. For good reason. The poor thing had been left positively speechless, staring at Dio with horror, disgust and a heavy dose of mortal terror. All healthy reactions, in his mind. "This is Princess Euphemia. I give you my personal assurance that no harm shall come to her while she is under my care."

"Eh?! Y-your highness! Thank you, that means the world to me!"

The call ended with that. Schizoid Man was clenching its fists. Yet it was holding back. Because it may well want to punch, but it dare not under these conditions. Why, in the midst of a combat zone anything might happen to the woman. Absolutely anything.

"We," Shirley hissed. "She said... We! Why did she say we?!"

Dio chuckled. He would deign to answer this question for it would further assert his superiority over her. "We picked up a few other people as well. For their safety and wellbeing," he explained. "A certain Mister Cardemonde, and that other boy Longston are both within our care."

Shirley took several sharp breaths. "They won't accept it," she warned. "If I order them to retreat or surrender without a very damn good reason, they'll assume an enemy ability has been used on me. Those were my last orders to the Black Knights."

"Then let us not talk of surrender," Dio said. He slammed his cane on the floor. "Let us talk of JOJO's strategy."

"JOJO's... Strategy?" Euphemia asked. Really now? It only went to show that she had her position by blood instead of talent if she had not figured this much out. So beneath him.

Dio began to pace around the room in a wide circle around the two women as he launched into his explanation. How best to phrase it so the two of them understood?

"Are you familiar with game theory?" Dio asked. "I have grown rather fond of it and its ideas over the past decade. The best way to describe it is 'the mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between two or more rational decision makers'. Although, in my experience... most decision makers are anything but rational in the real world."

"What does this have to do with JOJO's strategy?" Euphemia asked. Impatient child that she was, the girl still did not see the connection and demanded the answer be spoon fed to her. Schneizel or Lelouch would have already seen through it.

"It is simple," Dio said. "There is a concept in game theory called the 'dominant strategy'. JOJO has exploited the concept superbly. Even I, Dio, could hardly have used it better."

He locked eyes with the Fenette girl as he began his explanation. Did she have this potential as well? Had Lelouch taught her how to exploit the board effectively? Even Dio could not be certain either way. "Tell her why you are attacking," Dio insisted. "Why did the UNF suddenly decide to launch an attack on Area Eleven?"

"Because a Britannian force attacked the Forbidden Vermillion city and rescued Lelouch," the girl replied.

"I hadn't heard of this," Euphemia said. "Are you sure it was Britannian?"

"You tell me!" Shirley replied. "It was led by... your sister Cornelia."

"Cornelia... Is she alright? Did she say anything? I've been so worried about her –"

Dio stuck his cane out in between the two of them. While Euphemia's panic was an enjoyable spectacle, and Miss Fenette's attempts to explain what had happened in China would no doubt add to that entertainment, he did not wish to lose control over the conversation. Especially when the concepts involved were quite complicated.

"Within game theory, there are times when both 'decision makers' must select a strategy." Dio lowered the cane and resumed walking around them. Circling around them like a predator about to pounce. "There are times when one strategy will provide better outcomes than another no matter what the opponent chooses to do. Where the gains acquired or resources lost are simply better in every possible outcome.

"Such a strategy is known as a dominant strategy."

A flicker of understanding in the Fenette girl's eye. That confirmed a suspicion he had. It also proved that the Black Knight leaders weren't total fools. That was good. It would have been too boring if they had been. It was more satisfying to crush the spirit of an intelligent enemy than a dullard.

Now Dio could make another demand. "Tell the Princess the full reason you decided to invade Area Eleven. Was it truly Britannia who had attacked you?"

"No," she admitted. "No, the evidence did not fit. The people involved in the attack, the methodology, the lack of announcement in the Britannian press about Lelouch's daring rescue... We knew almost right away that it wasn't really Britannia who attacked."

"I beg your pardon?" Euphemia asked. Oh dear. Now her highness was getting upset. "But - But you're attacking us right now anyway? Why? What sense does that make? People are dying out there! Please tell me why!"

This question, it was Dio's pleasure to answer: "Because JOJO announced in public that Britannia had a secret influence in the United Federation of Nation's leadership."

Miss Fenette broke eye contact and stared quite intensely at the floor. Schizoid Man looked rather sheepish as well. The look did not fit such a powerhouse of a Stand. Oh well. Let it be.

"It's a different world from the top, is it not?" Dio asked. "You have a better view of the big picture that the little people will never see. You see the effects of the big decisions that seem so random to the average person. Things that seem to lack common sense are suddenly full of it."

"Did you have a point?" she snapped.

Dio ignored her question. Much the same as he would ignore any question she dared put to him. He knew all too well that he who last asked a question was the one in control over that conversation.

"JOJO used the little people against you," Dio said. "He put the thought in their head. They may have dismissed it as ridiculous, but he put the idea there nonetheless. Then he forged an attack by Britannian forces, tailor made to push all of your buttons."

Euphemia picked it up from there while Miss Fenette tried her best to look indignant. "Meaning that if they tried to publicly shift the blame to JOJO, it would have seemed incredibly suspicious. Especially since the evidence would have seemed highly circumstantial."

"You had three choices left before you," Dio said. "Do nothing, or declare war against JOJO and Europe. Either would throw suspicion onto the leadership. The people would start to wonder if you were Britannian puppets after all. Your new world power would fracture at the foundations when its people were only now in the process of coming to trust one another. Or you could cement your position on the world stage by pushing Britannia out of Area Eleven. The choice must have seemed obvious. Attacking Britannia is the dominant strategy. Exactly as JOJO wanted. Setting two rivals on the world stage against one another! Magnificent."

"So what?" Miss Fenette asked. "None of that matters anymore. What I said before is still true. The Black Knights won't pull back if I order them to, no matter what you try to threaten me with."

"Threaten you?" Dio tsked. "Make the Black Knights surrender? No, my dear. For that little trick, we're going to use the Siege Perilous,"

"Your personal transport?" Euphemia asked.

"Indeed! At this very moment it's equipped with a cloaking device on the remnants of Kyushu. At my order it will launch no less than ten F.L.E.I.J.A. warheads directly into Korea."

There will be a time in the near future where such a statement would fill anyone hearing it with the most utmost fear they had heard in their lives. That time was not yet. For now, there was nothing but confusion on both of their faces. They did not understand what it meant. Not that Dio cared. He was going to give the order no matter what at this point. He'd only come here to tell Shirley Fenette and Princess Euphemia of this development to their faces, so they would come to recognise after the fact that they could have potentially stopped him.

Not that they could have. The cruelty was found in giving them that illusion. Nothing in the world could stop him from pressing that button now, and -

The lights in the room suddenly flickered and came on. What was this? Alongside them, a monitor mounted to the wall came to life as well.

"So that's what it is," a gratingly familiar voice said. Dio growled in frustration at the sight of his former student, sitting comfortably half a world away. "Thank you, Chancellor. Now I have a full understanding of what's going on in the world today. Your explanation was most appreciated."

"Schneizel," Euphemia sighed in relief. Misguided, naive relief.

====Luciano====

Do you know what the funniest joke in the world is? Peace. Everyone says they want it, yet it keeps on slipping away. Wars still happen. Fights break out, battles occur. Why, there are even perfectly legal sports where people can watch two fighters beat the tar out of each other.

War, though? That was where a person's true nature comes to the forefront. Be you coward? Be you a killer - sorry, that should be hero. Easy mistake, please do forgive it. The point remains the same though. Put a person in a high stress situation where their life is on the line, it's inevitable that you'd see their true self poke its head out.

"Is that all you have, Elevens?" Luciano Bradley taunted, slashing Percival's MVS Claw through an enemy Knightmare. You know, he often heard people calling his Knightmare "oddly bulky" - though usually quickly adding that it was imposing. That reaction always amused him because that had been his first impression as well. The light purple Knightmare had cones extending from the wrists, spikes on it shoulders and landspinners and - for much needed extra intimidation value - armour with sharp points jutting out at the hips and feet.

To Bradley's immense satisfaction he beheld the pilot sitting in their cockpit, quaking in rightful fear. "You do realise you stand to lose that which is most precious to you, don't you?" The pilot's escape pod launched. Percival grabbed hold of it and threw it into one of his friends.

He caught it safely. Good friend! Bad tactical decision. Bradley laughed while Percival's slash harken shredded both of them at close range.

"Really now! I came here to see what the fuss with Stands was all about, and this is what you give me?" Bradley tutted. "Hmp! People call me cruel and unusual, but this takes the cake."

"Then I'll satisfy that bloodlust for you, Vampire of Britannia!"

Ohohoho, what was this? Could it be? The legend himself charging right for him in an ominous black Knightmare with a slavering ox-like Stand rushing by its side. Bradley grinned in anticipation. What sort of man would Kyoshiro Tohdoh turn out to be in the heat of battle when his life was on the line?

"They call you the Miracle Maker." Bradley began by raising his shield and drawing back his claw. Making it seem as though he was moving to defend himself from Tohdoh's incoming strike. "In my view there's no such thing as miracles in this world."

Of course, his real intention was to open up the front of his shield and reveal an array of missiles. He'd only fire a few for now. He didn't have nearly as many as Anya's Mordred.

"That may be the one and only belief that we share," Tohdoh sternly replied.

The booster in the hilt of his brake sword fired, drastically changing the incoming angle of the jet black Knightmare. Tohdoh swung that sword around, completely bypassing Percival's shield. Bradley activated the blaze luminous attached to his claw and swiftly blocked it.

"Show me what you've got, Stand using Eleven!" Bradley yelled, bringing around his shield to clobber Tohdoh's Knightmare on its flight enabler.

"As you wish," Tohdoh said. His Stand Beast of Burden suddenly lunged out and crashed into the shield. It wasn't much of a delay, but it was enough to give Tohdoh room to back off, drifting up into the air above Percival.

At the same time the shield dipped substantially. That was Beast of Burden at work! Tohdoh fired his Knightmare's slash harkens out, forcing Percival to counter with its own. They were easily knocked aside. Those harkens - they had tags on them!

'What a tedious way for a Stand user to fight.' The Knight of Ten tsked, disappointed at the mundanity of it all. 'He isn't even using it as the primary means of attack. Buffing and debuffing, how thoroughly tedious!"

In which case the fundamentals of the battlefield had not drastically changed. Their surroundings: A series of high rises towards the outskirts of the settlement.

"How exciting!" Bradley tossed his shield aside. Dead weight right now, while Tohdoh was above him. "The chance to fight a Stand user... This is exactly the excitement I was looking for!" The armour on Percival's hips opened up, revealing a pair of Hadron Blasters. Not as powerful as Mordred's cannons, but less of a cooldown period. They fired out a pair of spherical blasts straight for Tohdoh. "It's so much more fun killing when your prey struggles!"

"A battle is not a hunting ground," Tohdoh replied, using his brake sword's booster to dodge around those attacks. Which was the best thing for him to do really. Those things could punch through a blaze luminous shield... Or straight through a building.

To his credit the man had enough battlefield awareness to notice the ominous creaking and shifting shadow being cast over him. His Stand immediately shot up and smashed into the falling section of the building. Not so much trying to hold it up, mind. It was slapping those tags all over it, making it lighter and lighter and lighter so long as Tohdoh remained underneath.

Which was fine so far as Bradley was concerned. The fallen building was a distraction anyway. "That's another point we agree on," said the Knight of Ten. He flipped a switch and pulled a trigger. Then the shield, still mid-fall, opened up its missile cylinders and let loose. "I'd say, it's more of a meat grinder."

Suddenly Tohdoh slashed his sword through a section of the building, and Beast of Burden attached tags to the debris that fell off as they were passing Tohdoh. Ah! By cutting the building he was able to turn parts of it into a 'separate object' from the building his Stand was affecting. This allowed the pieces to fall, and once they had passed him they were made 'heavy' so that their resilience would be tougher.

This would ensure they would strike the missiles at a high enough speed to make them detonate a safe distance away from Tohdoh's Knightmare!

"How fun!" Bradley cackled. "How interesting!" Percival's claw shifted positions and began to glow. "Now, please die!" The claw span around and lunged out squarely for the centre of Tohdoh's mass. Yes, even the missiles had also been a distraction to ensure Bradley could get close enough to strike with his claws, which were now spinning so rapidly they might as well be a drill.

"So this is how you earned those nicknames," Tohdoh said. "Vampire of Britannia and Homicide Genius."

Before the final blow could land a thick mist of chaffe filled the air. What? Tohdoh had that on him as well? "Is the miracle maker retreating so soon?" Bradley tutted. He let Percival's claws spin around a little more. He'd seen them do something like this in Europe - there we go! Clearing up this chaffe should let him see where his prey had fled to.

Or he could start to drop from sudden unexpected weight gain. "What the hell?!" Bradley yelled. He looked up and zoomed in. Tohdoh was flying upwards?! No, not just upwards. He was flying above the broken piece of building as well! "But if he does that - "

"The effect will switch," Tohdoh said. "Leaving you to be crushed under the same building you tried to use against me. Did you enjoy your fight against a Stand user, Vampire of Britannia? Was it everything you hoped for?"

"Could this be it?" Bradley yelled. "Is this the end of the most precious thing to me? My very own life?"

Damn it! This really was the worst. Not being able to see Tohdoh's face when his crummy Knightmare's arms and legs were bound by the concealed Valkyries... The very idea of missing that pissed him off!

"Got him!"

What, did you really think he'd die so easily? "Hehehehe... Hahahahaha!" Bradley's laughter was maniacal, so chilling even a real monster might feel disturbed. For a moment Percival disappeared from sight. Then the falling piece of building began to shake violently, and a few seconds after that Percival broke clear through, its right hand extending in the air and its MVS claw spinning so quickly it really did look exactly like a drill.

Percival floated up triumphantly towards Tohdoh. His Knightmare bound arms and legs by the Valkyrie. "Good work," he said to them. Ah yes... Earlier on he'd opened up a Knightmare's cockpit to get a good look at the pilot. What an effective way to see the growing fear in their eyes as they lost their life! He slashed out the front of the cockpit.

"You truly have no sense of honour," Tohdoh admonished. Look at him. Sitting there all defiant. Stoic. Arms crossed and everything.

"Who, me?" Bradley laughed. Beast of Burden slammed into the front of Percival, so he backed off a bit. "Heh... It's not my fault you misunderstood me, Eleven. I wanted to test myself up against a Stand user. I didn't say it would be an honourable fight. There is only one thing that matters to Luciano Bradley. Tell him, girls!"

"Victory! At all costs!"

"What good is honour if it costs you your life?" Bradley asked, getting his claw to resume spinning. "What good is integrity if it holds you back? What good is pride if you never win?"

"Anyone who asked those questions would never comprehend the answer."

Huh? An old man said that. Bradley backed off mid-attack, just in time to see an enemy Knightmare swooping in for him. Tsk! He didn't have time for interruptions! Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another two of the same model go right for the harken cables, slicing through them with their swords.

"Are you harmed, Commander?" a woman asked.

"We would have been here sooner, but we had other business to take care of," a younger man said.

"Urabe. Senba. Chiba. I'm surprised to see you all here," Tohdoh said. "Each of you had your own teams to lead. Why are you here instead of leading them?"

The Valkyrie returned to Bradley's side, forcing the Knightmare attacking him to beat a hasty retreat. A showdown, huh? No matter. Him and the Valkyries still outnumbered them five to four.

"Please forgive us Commander," the woman Eleven said. "We could hardly stand aside when you needed our help."

"Sentimentality has no place on the battlefield," Bradley tsked. "Now you will all lose that which is most precious to you –"

"Sir Bradley!" Liliana yelled, suddenly pushing him aside. An oddly shaped missile flew by him, struck a nearby building - and then began to glow red. A radiant wave projectile?

"As Chiba was saying. The elimination of a Knight of the Round would be a tremendous blow to Britannian morale," the old man said.

"So we all brought our teams here and established a perimeter while you were fighting Tohdoh," the young man added.

Fifteen additional Knightmares had appeared all around them. Aiming at the Valkyrie Squadron from all sides. In this situation, it was clear: Beast of Burden would be favoured, as it would be able to make all those Knightmares heavier or lighter as the tactical situation demanded.

"As I was saying before: Miracles do not exist in this world," Tohdoh said. "They are created in advance by planning, but also in compassion and friendship."

"How adorable! The Numbers intend to crush me under sheer weight of numbers!" Bradley laughed. "But remember what I was saying before, Tohdoh of Miracles?"

The Vampire of Britannia snapped his fingers. Twenty flight enabled Gloucesters rose from the ground. Like zombies climbing out of their graves to do their master's bidding. Now that the players were all on the board, the real game could begin.

"You don't win battles by fighting fair," Bradley sneered. The Numbers split their attention. A few decided to attack Percival and the Valkyrie, others moved towards the Gloucesters. Oh! The carnage about to ensue! He could hardly wait to see the form it took, even he couldn't guess its final result anymore. "The best way to win is to dominate the battlefield by any means available to you."

"Die, Eleven!"

"Your Stand doesn't frighten me!"

"All Hail Britannia!"

The Gloucesters rushed recklessly into battle holding absolutely nothing back. Bradley began to cackle as the shape of chaos took form around him. Oh yes, he'd use absolutely any resource it took to win a fight. He'd even use their own men's lives as weapons if that's what it took to win!

And he'd also use this new power of his to temporarily remove any trace of 'fear of death' from their soldiers as well. Unleash their true selves upon the battlefield. No restraints. No hesitation. No concern for their own well being. Oh, sure. They were dropping like flies, but they were taking down some of those Elevens with them. Or at the very least doing substantial damage. How tremendously helpful of them!

"You're laughing at a time like this?!" Tohdoh yelled, whirling around in the nick of time to parry his claw. The two of them pushed up against each other in a test of strength. "You really are insane!"

"Insane?" Bradley countered. He fired all four of Percival's slash harkens, enjoying the sight of Tohdoh's Knightmare getting shredded right before his eyes. "I'm the most sane one here! Hahahahahaha!"

Oho? Now the man was trying to launch an escape capsule? While the Four Holy Swords were preoccupied, Luciano dove in, still laughing and heedless of the small amount of damage being taken from debris. Mere dents that could be ironed out later on by the engineers, that was the purpose of their life after all.

"It turns out that even a miracle couldn't save you," Luciano taunted. The claw swiped cleanly through the capsule - revealing that it was empty. No sign of Tohdoh. None at all! "Where did he –"

Clang! Something heavy had landed on his Knightmare! "What's on me?" he barked. As if he hadn't already guessed!

"It's Tohdoh!" Marika answered. "It looks like he was holding a sheet of metal covered in tags over his head."

"He made a sheet of metal into a parachute using his Stand's ability," Luciano sneered. "How quaint! And useless."

"If being sane means being like you, then I shall linger on in the myriad realms of madness!" Tohdoh yelled.

"Lunatic! Even with a Stand, what could you hope to accomplish out there?" Bradley barked. Now, let's see. There were at least a dozen ways he could kill that man. Which would be the cruellest...?

He already knew the answer to that, of course. He flew around as if trying to shake the man off, when his actual goal was to guide him towards the top and front of Percival. Which was almost certainly his goal from the start. Why, Bradley even did him the honour of opening up his cockpit to let them meet eye to eye.

"You are a skilled pilot," Tohdoh admitted. The man drew a sword - a katana by Bradley's reckoning. "Although, your lust for blood holds you back."

"Much as your zeal for life holds you back," Bradley replied. His eye started to glow, and the Stand user in front of him completely tensed up as he fell under the influence of this mysterious power. All he'd have to do was tip his Knightmare down, and then -

Another clang rang out in his Knightmare, a much harsher one this time. It send him shaking and reeling. One of the Four Holy Swords this time?!

"You Elevens are like cockroaches!" he yelled, quickly turning around to face his new enemy. To his immense satisfaction, Tohdoh fell off Percival. Less to his satisfaction, the man was caught by another of his friends. "I see. This has been quite educational, Elevens! A Stand fight isn't just a Stand fight. How instructive! I'll be sure to take that lesson to hear the next time I indulge in some slaughter!"

"Sir Bradley, you may stand down. Our business in Area Eleven is concluded."

That voice! It sent chills up the Knight of Ten's spine hearing it. Even his bloodlust was immediately cast aside upon hearing such a wonderful voice. "Yes, my Lord!" he said, disengaging from the battle without a shred of hesitation.

A shame, as it was starting to get really good. Still though... If one properly values their own life, then one would have to be wary of crossing someone as sublime as Chancellor Brando!

====Shirley====

This was not how she'd imagined this would go. What was supposed to happen was really quite simple. She'd talk to Euphemia. She'd stress the balance of power on the battlefield in a way that made it seem like a pointless meat grinder. She'd present an argument to make the Princess surrender. A decapitation strike, bringing about a surrender that would minimise giving JOJO any advantage.

It would have been quick. It would have been clean. It would have been much, much better for everyone involved. But now...?

"Euphemia please forgive my eavesdropping," Schneizel said. "I was concerned with palace security after Nunnally's disappearance, so I took the liberty of placing a listening device in that brooch you're so fond of. It seemed the safest course of action to ensure your safety."

"It's also a major breach of privacy!" Euphemia protested, puffing out her cheeks in indignation. "You should have told me you were going to do something like that!"

To Shirley's amazement, Chancellor Brando stepped between Euphemia and the monitor without a trace of hesitation. Interrupting a discussion between two members of the Royal family like that? It was a small gesture, but profound.

"You may continue this conversation later, after Schneizel explains himself to me," Dio said, stunning Shirley even more with that tone and attitude. He was either a fool or he wielded an even larger amount of influence at court than she could have guessed. "This matter has almost been concluded, Prince Schneizel. I fail to see why it is a concern of yours."

"To do that, there is one matter I must confirm," Schneizel replied, his tone and posture radiating amicability. "Among those taken during the attack on the palace was one researcher by the name 'Nina Einstein'. Correct?"

Dio's eyes narrowed. "Correct," he answered. "What of it?"

Nina! Shirley bit her lip and tried not to think about it. JOJO had taken Lelouch, Nunnally, Milly and Nina by now. Not to mention Cornelia. What was her great grandfather up to? Why was he taking all those people? What did he need them for?

"She was the girl who came up with the concept that was developed into F.L.E.I.J.A. You would be hard pressed to find someone more knowledgeable on the matter than she. Which leaves me to wonder: With the right motivation, could she be encouraged or forced to develop a counter?"

"Oy, oy! What's F.L.E.I.J.A. to start with"? Shirley asked.

"I know of Freyja who was a Norse Goddess," Euphemia replied. "She was often associated with love and beauty, but also war and death. Otherwise, the phrase is lost on me."

"In any event: Chancellor, you have put forward a fascinating theory about our European adversaries manipulating the United Federation of Nations into attacking us," Schneizel said. "But I would put it to you that their machinations go a step beyond that as well. If their 'dominant strategy' in this situation is to attack us, then what is our 'dominant strategy'."

Dio slammed his cane on the floor. "What else, but to show how Britannia dominates others by right of power?" was his answer. The man's voice grew louder and more booming as he spoke. "If they think to swarm us like insects, then we shall fill the air with insecticide! With one fell swoop I shall bring them all to heel! They shall drop to their rightful place: At the Empire's feet! Before our might none shall prevail!"

"Unless someone else offers them protection from our grand power."

"I'm not sure I follow," Euphemia added, stepping around the chancellor to address the monitor. "Are you saying that JOJO intended to bring the United Federation of Nations under his control by –"

"By making Britannia into a threat too big for any other course of action," Dio interrupted. "You mean to say that instead of growing fearful, the remnants of the United Federation of Nation and the Black Knights would rather turn to Europe's protection from us and from F.L.E.I.J.A. . Fascinating theory, Prince Schneizel."

"Oy, oy, oy!" Shirley yelled. "Is this F.L.E.I.J.A. really so strong it can do all of this? Did Nina really develop a weapon that strong?"

"If anything, we are underselling its devastating power," Schneizel said. Underselling...? That had to be a lie! "So, Chancellor Brando. One must wonder if your assessment of the truly 'dominant strategy' is the correct one. If you launch those F.L.E.I.J.A. warheads as you threatened, you will be pushing the United Federation of Nations with all of its resources, manpower and land directly into the hands of Jonathan Joestar. Precisely as they intend."

"I see." Dio tapped his cane three times and then pointed at the monitor. "Then tell me, Schneizel! What do you believe is the dominant strategy? What is best for the Empire, in your humble view?"

"In my humble view? Of late Area Eleven's productivity has dropped for reasons broadly unrelated to administrative efforts. Supernatural events have flocked to it like moths to a flame. Further, thanks to Miss Einstein's efforts we are beginning to develop more efficient energy extraction from Uranium 235 than we can currently accomplish with Sakuradite.

"I say... That it is time for us to topple our King upon the chess board. Reserve our strength, reserve our energy for the true battle against Europe. Let the Black Knights spend their time and energy rebuilding their nation of Japan - with certain conditions put in place, of course."

By this time Shirley was left doing her best goldfish impersonation. Her mouth opened wide, but no words came out. She didn't know what to say. After all that... After everything was said and done...

"You're surrendering?" she finally asked.

"No," Dio shook his head. "Not yet. You have not convinced me yet, Schneizel! You are making a supposition about JOJO's plans that has no foundation, and expect us to surrender an Area over it? You shall have to do a little better than this!"

"Of course Chancellor. I would expect nothing less," Schneizel said. It was as if he was freely admitting that he was going to be manipulating the old man now! What kind of battle of wits has this become without her even noticing? "You at least agree that JOJO deliberately provoked this attack upon the Area?"

"Naturally," Dio replied. "What of it?"

"Then think of it this way: How much more satisfying will it feel if we use his own strategy to turn the Black Knights against him? Redirect his attack so it hurts him instead of us?"

A low rumbling sound began to shake the floor, the walls and the ceiling. Or at least that was the impression Shirley had. It was no earthquake: It was Chancellor Dio Brando's rising laughter, growing in volume and mania as time passed on.

"Very well then!" Dio yelled. "Let Area Eleven fall into their hands! Do with it what you will! Though the pair of you, take this warning with you: What lies ahead will make everything you have experienced until now seem like paradise by comparison."

That was it? Appealing to Dio's dislike of JOJO was enough to bring him in favour of the idea? The old man walked out of the room with his cape billowing behind him, as though he were running rather than walking. Maybe it was the loud laugh kicking up the air behind him? Who could say?

"Then... You are surrendering Area Eleven?" Shirley asked.

"Indeed we are," Schneizel answered. "Under certain reasonable conditions, of course... And have no fear Miss Fenette. I shall not undermine your position in the Black Knights by revealing your identity to them. That would be most disadvantageous to us as well."

As if it really mattered much these days. It felt like almost everyone knew who Zero truly was by now. Everyone... except for her own allies. Even so!

"In that case, I want my mother released as well."

Schneizel gently smiled at her. "Very well. Please do accept my apologies for the Chancellor's threat. I shall ensure that she and your friends are all released safely."

In spite of these challenges and in spite of this stress she had to stand tall. She had to stand proud. She had to stand for justice for everyone's sake! Because if she didn't do it, then who on Earth would?

====Suzaku====

"Never before have I faced such a paradoxical opponent. One who fights honourably for an evil cause."

Lancelot dodged around bursts of water shooting up from beneath it. You wouldn't think such an attack would have any kind of effect on a Knightmare, but when you saw who he was up against you would quickly understand.

There were five of them standing on the surface of a lake on the outskirts of the settlement. Five Knightmares of the same mould, with larger hands and feet than other Knightmares. They were Okuni! All five of them! The same specialist Knightmare developed for C.C. that was designed to accommodate making use of Ripple - except this model seemed to be mass produced and he'd be surprised if any of them were the green haired immortal.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Suzaku said. Lancelot whirled around, barely managing to deflect an Okuni that had rode atop a water spout to get up to him. Ah! These combination attacks! Even Lancelot was having trouble dodging them all!

"This could be tricky," Cecile observed. "Normally if you were fighting a Ripple master, I'd say you should use smoke or something to interrupt their breathing."

"Wish I'd taken the chance to study this martial art when I had the chance!" Lloyd moaned. "That green haired witch wouldn't let me near her..."

"The trouble is!" Cecile interrupted. "Those Knightmares will protect them from any such trick."

"Say, Suzaku! Do you think you could capture one of them alive? I have a few experiments I'd like to perform..."

"Lloyd! Focus!"

He couldn't interrupt their breathing? In which case: It was time to find another way to win! While continuing his dodging pattern through the air Suzaku drew out the VARIS Rifle. They wanted to make a big splash? Let's see how they handle VARIS at its most powerful shot!

The gun fired a large spherical energy shot down into the lake below. Not aiming at any of the Okuni. His intention was to disturb the surface of the water itself with an energy attack that punched clean through the toughest Knightmare armour.

"Crystal Spout Overdrive!"

As soon as he fired the Okuni split into two groups. Three in a large circular formation, slapping their hands against the water and making a large spout to form right where the attack would hit. The other two, next to the spout and grabbing it with both hands.

"A team attack...?" Suzaku wondered. In that time the VARIS shot hit the top of the spout - and bounced right back towards him! Even though he'd already moved after firing the shot! Suzaku had no choice but to disperse his own first shot with another.

"I was hoping to avoid getting up close and personal," Suzaku said. He docked the rifle over his head. "Those Knightmares are even more dangerous hand to hand."

"We have honed our craft for generations so that we may fight evil head on!" Above him? Suzaku whirled around. Yes, indeed: An Okuni had managed to get above him, and was dropping down to meet Lancelot feet first with a flying dropkick. "When we see evil, we do not become servant to it and call that action just!"

"I don't doubt your ability to fight evil!" Suzaku yelled, lashing out with a hard kick. "But if all you do is fight evil without trying to reform it, you'll never truly defeat it."

The Knightmare suddenly twisted in mid-air, and its foot caught Lancelot's hand, then pushed it hard aside. Then the other foot did the same thing with Lancelot's other hand. He was pushing the arms apart!

"Ah! It shouldn't be able to do that so easily!" Lloyd complained. "That Ripple technique is such a cheat!"

"The paradox deepens," the Ripple Master continued, raising Okuni's hands over its head, then crossing them with a great imposing purpose. "To say the very least, Japan and China have had a tumultuous relationship. And yet! You, a Japanese man, fight on the side that enslaves and belittles your people, while we Chinese fight to ensure your freedom."

"Even if you free Japan... Even if you liberate one nation, will it change anything inside Britannia?" Suzaku asked. This was bad. Lancelot's arms were completely pinned down. He couldn't even rotate the wrists to use his swords. This split legged technique was so unorthodox that he wasn't sure what his opponent would do next! "The only way to stop the fighting is to show them the folly of their ideals by enacting change from within."

"You are too good a soul for them, Suzaku Kururugi!" his enemy yelled. "If only we were not enemies, I would not have to use... Thunder Cross Split Attack!"

Ah! Of course! That was his plan! A double handed cross chop! A technique like that would be absolutely lethal in a combat between human beings. Especially with Ripple being used to ensnare the enemy's hands.

But this was not a fight between human beings. It was a fight between Knightmares. Lloyd and Miss Cecile had made some improvements to Lancelot recently. Let's put those upgrades to the test.

The Blaze Luminous sparked into life in front of Lancelot's chest. The powerful forcefield flashed a calming green, repelling the incoming strike with ease - and then the four projectors on Lancelot's chest flashed into life as well, causing the forcefield to grow forward into a sharp, pointed cone that extended out a few feet rather than the flat surface it normally created. The Okuni was sharply pushed back with heavy damage to its Knightmare, to the point where it had to use a hand and a foot to stay upright on the water.

"I think we can call the Core Luminous Cone a resounding success," Lloyd said. You could hear the smirk in his voice. That wasn't anything new, but it was especially the case here. "A shame you didn't try out the Golden Luminous Cone, it would be interesting to see how Ripple fares against that!"

"A life or death battle is hardly the time to experiment with new features," Cecile insisted. "We can do analysis after the battle is over!" Ah yes. Kind and compassionate as she may be (especially compared to Lloyd),, Cecile Croomy was still a scientist at heart.

"Sir Kururugi, let me tell you this about Ripple," one of the Ripple Masters on the lake said. "Those who have not trained in the art cannot safely contain it within their own bodies for any length of time lest it burn them from within. The same holds true for machines as well as man!"

Suzaku moved Lancelot's hands to draw his MVS swords - but the wrists wouldn't turn. So that's what he meant? During that last attack he'd paralysed Lancelot's hands! It couldn't close its hands to grip, nor turn its wrist. Subtle damage, but profound!

"Now all you have are your slash harkens and your forcefield," he was warned. "With the latter you can only defend, while with the former - we will simply transmit Ripple through the cables to inflict yet more damage to your Knightmare. Let us be, honourable warrior. Feel no shame in your defeat, and live on to fight another day."

"If I back down now, all I'll do is justify everything that the worst Britannians say about Numbers," Suzaku said. "That's why I fight with every fibre of my being. Not because I enjoy it, but because I can't give an inch."

"They would say these things regardless of what you do."

"Maybe some! But enough will change their mind, a few at a time. That's how a movement grows. A nation changes its identity a few people at a time! The Britannia of today might be evil, but the Britannia of tomorrow can be a force for good! If only it is given the opportunity!"

He could see them. Even the Knightmares had them. Golden rectangles around the limbs and torso. He could see them in the buildings, too. The perfect ratio that reflects beauty in nature and design alike. That's it. That's what Marika was talking about. The golden ratio!

"Golden Scattershot!"

The beauty of the VARIS rifle was its versatility. It could easily fire a single overpowered shot, or it could fire something much weaker and faster with ease. A simple change of settings and you had the ultimate all purpose firearm. Add in the new attachment to the base of Lancelot's flight enabler, and now it could add Spin to those variable shots as well.

In this case he had unleashed five smaller spinning spheres in a wide sweeping arc, each one aimed squarely at a different Okuni.

"Your spirit gives you credit, even if it is misaimed!"

Each of the Ripple users began channelling that energy into the water they were standing on, twisted their arms and pulled a stream of water clear out of the lake, forming a much smaller spout than what they had used before. Then they clung to the side. Even the damaged one was able to stay upright this way, as it was able to use Ripple to channel the effect and also to stay upright at the same time.

Incredible! Though Suzaku knew little of Ripple, he knew a lot about martial arts. Being able to maintain something like that must require a tremendous amount of concentration and focus.

Each of his shots were caught by the spouts, one after the other. But the difference this time was that these shots were spinning! This time, instead of reflecting off the spouts the shots remained resting on top of them, rapidly spinning in place. They'd start to draw up more water, which would disrupt their ability to stand on the surface of the lake!

"Did you believe that we were unfamiliar with this European technique? Haaaaa!"

Without warning the spouts began to glow - and then the shots were expelled from the tops of the spouts like they had been fired from a cannon. Once again, Suzaku found himself deeply impressed with his enemy today. Their mastery of this unusual style would have been beautiful, if they weren't using it to oppose his efforts of reform.

"Do you know why I fired the weakest VARIS setting?" Suzaku asked.

At this moment in time, Lancelot itself was in mid-spin. One of the shots came up directly into Lancelot's leg - and collided with a small blaze luminous shield that was created by another new addition. A projector on the leg! The VARIS shot dispersed on impact, and Lancelot kept on going. Kept on spinning until its enhanced kick struck the top of one of the spouts.

"It was so I could block it when you sent it back to me," Suzaku sternly said.

The Spin from that kick was far more devastating than any of those shots could have been. As he'd planned, the attack disturbed the surface tension that the Ripple masters were exploiting to stay atop the water - and so they dropped underneath the waves. Becoming nothing but ripples themselves, a mere disturbance on the surface of the lake.

"You shouldn't have listened to them," Suzaku lamented. "If only I could have explained it to you, then maybe... Maybe we could have worked together to enact real long term change. We could have fought evil in a whole new way."

"To all soldiers of Britannia, hear this message!"

Euphemia?

"To all soldiers of the Black Knights, listen well!"

Z-Zero? In the same broadcast?! Suzaku's breath caught in his throat and he stared in disbelief at the monitor in front of him. Indeed it was, the two of them were standing side by side in - In the palace garden!

"Shirley... That's a dirty trick you pulled..." Suzaku grunted. "Lelouch really corrupted you pretty thoroughly, didn't he?" Another person he could have worked with. If only he had the chance to change her mind before all this kicked off.

"All fighting is to cease immediately, by order of Third Princess, Euphemia li Britannia! Zero and I have come to an agreement regarding the future of Area Eleven."

An... agreement? Somehow Suzaku didn't think whatever it was would go down very well.

"Of late, it has become apparent that maintaining Area Eleven is no longer a profitable venture for the Holy Britannian Empire," Euphemia said. "Resources spent here are better utilised in the European theatre of war."

That wasn't Euphemia's line. She delivered it as if she was reading it from a script. Was Zero holding her hostage? Making her comply against her will? If so then Suzaku could never forgive her. Even if her current behaviour wasn't her fault, Suzaku could never forgive her if she threatened Euphie.

"Therefore, under agreement with Second Prince, Schneizel el Britannia, we shall be formally withdrawing from Area Eleven forthwith."

Surrendering Area Eleven? He'd thought that was the way things were going but, actually hearing it said aloud felt very... strange.

"Further details shall be announced at a later time!" Zero dramatically declared "For now, all fighting is to cease. Any on either side who continues to fight shall answer to me personally, as my Stand's fists shall have some pointed questions for them."

And that was it. Once again his world was turned on its ear. It happened so quickly that he didn't even know what to say. Or think. Japan was a free nation. Free from Britannian influence. Free from the racists, free from exploitation, free from being degraded from a culture to a Number. That was a good thing, right? So why didn't it feel right?

Suddenly the water broke beneath him, and the five Okuni rose back up to the surface, the damaged model being helped up by two others.

"Sir Kururugi! Before that announcement came through, we were intending to launch a shameful and dishonourable hidden attack from beneath the lake. Please forgive our sin, proud warrior."

Lancelot lowered until its feet were also touching the water. "In the heat of battle, good men slip up and make mistakes," he said. "You apologise for something that hasn't even happened."

"I see. So, what do you intend to do now? Shall you rejoin your people as a free man, or remain a Britannian lapdog?"

As if there was any other way for him to answer that question.

"Japan may be safe, but Britannia is not," he said as frankly as he could. "I must save it from itself. I'll fight evil with all my strength but I'll do it the right way. If all you care about are the ends, then victory over evil can never mean anything."

"What I said before still holds true: You are the most paradoxical warrior I have ever encountered. Good fortune, Suzaku Kururugi! May your quest succeed in spite of the odds."

Maybe. But he had a pretty bad feeling that tonight's battle wasn't going to make things any easier. Not for him. Not for anyone

====Schneizel====

The transmission cut out and Schneizel allowed himself to relax in his chair. The conversation had not been long, but it had still been an exhausting ordeal. He'd heard it said that the Chancellor's greatest asset was his forceful presence, and now Schneizel could attest to that as well; he'd felt immense pressure from the man over a satellite communication.

"A shame to lose Area Eleven," Kanon remarked. "The Sakuradite may have been useful as a backup energy source."

"Yet it was but a Pawn in the grand game," Schneizel corrected. "The whole world is at stake, Kanon. Every human being of every nation of the world is being toyed with. Area Eleven was a distraction. The real game is set in Europe."

He turned in his chair to loom over a map of the continent. By this stage he had hoped to be at least at Berlin. Not pushed back to the north of Africa. He still hadn't grasped the shape of JOJO's thinking as a military leader. His tactics were opaque, even when his goals seemed obvious. Which made Schneizel feel as though JOJO himself wasn't necessarily giving the orders: It was quite probable that he was drawing on advice from his Paladins to make sure his plans remained unpredictable.

He felt like a masterchef trying out another's dish, trying to discern the spices used and in what proportions. There was a definite understated taste to the whole affair that felt eerily familiar. And yet...

"Holding the Chancellor back from using F.L.E.I.J.A. was a masterstroke, your highness," Kanon said. That observation from his keenly intelligent subordinate drew Schneizel's attention away from that problem for the time being. Best to let it sit in the back of his mind for now. Live in the present moment to address Kanon's remark.

"Why do you say that?" Schneizel asked. Always keen to hear Kanon's insights. They didn't always agree in their assessments, which was a vital part of having someone work under you; When you're surrounded by people who only agree with you, it ensures you can never learn from your mistakes. "Humour me, Kanon. Why was it a good idea to hold off on using F.L.E.I.J.A.?"

"Because the research moved forward far too quickly all of a sudden," Kanon smoothly answered. "Following the kidnapping of Nina Einstein, various researchers who were also working on the project had sudden mysterious 'epiphanies' that advanced progress, leading to a much faster development time than we anticipated. You wanted to hold off on using it until you understood the 'reason' for this rapid development."

"So that's your conclusion?" Schneizel asked.

"It is," Kanon answered. "Although we must be careful. Now that we have this technology, we cannot hold off on using it indefinitely. Especially if there is a risk that it may be used against us."

For once, it seemed as though Kanon had got it wrong. "That... was not my true intention," Schneizel shook his head, and returned his attention to the map of Europe. "All I intended to do was to make my own first move in this mysterious grand game being played across the world. It is truly that simple, Kanon. No need to look any deeper."

"You gave up an Area to play this game?" Kanon asked. "Forgive me for saying so, your highness. It is not like you to make a move without some idea of who your opponent will be."

"Oh, I do have an idea of the players in this game," Schneizel said. "Most of them, at any rate. My father, the Emperor. Chancellor Brando. Jonathan Joestar. An as yet unknown faction within the Empire. Possibly others as well."

He stopped and moved around some pieces on the map. No, no. That was wrong. The Prince moved them back and tried another configuration, then another and another until he was satisfied.

"Wouldn't Lelouch also technically qualify?" Kanon asked. Schneizel's hand froze over the map. "His actions did lead to the development of the United Federation of Nations."

Lelouch... The brother he loved and feared more than any other. For good reason. His mind was - and always had been - like a steel trap. He oozes charisma like an athlete oozes sweat. But perhaps his most dangerous attribute was his unbridled determination.

Yes... It might well seem as though Schneizel's assessment of the game needed to be reevaluated. "Thank you, Kanon. You said the right thing for the wrong reason."

"Your highness?"

"There is no question in my mind," Schneizel said, staring over the map with the fire of intrigue dancing in his eyes. "Lelouch is playing the grand game. He is one of the players vying for control over humanity's destiny."

Where are you, little brother...? Where are you hiding? Or rather, where are you being hidden? Now Schneizel's main goal was absolutely clear: Locate Lelouch. Locate him at all costs. Keep him safe, keep him contained and then...

"Even if he doesn't realise it yet."

====Lelouch====

He woke up with a mouthful of dirt. Not exactly the most dignified ways to start the day, but when his eyes blinked open he quickly learned that it was still night. His limbs felt heavy. His body weak. Knockout gas? Possibly. No, definitely. Which meant he was probably an enemy captive. His waking mind brought forth an image: Sayoko looming over him with that Stand hovering behind her... No, make that definitely an enemy captive.

Lelouch forced himself up to his feet in spite of the complaints of his body. What he saw when his eyes were less bleary was beyond his expectations. Not a prison cell, nor a hospital, not even indoors, though in a sense he was inside of a building. Above him was the night's sky, and around him?

It was a large circular structure made of crumbling stone. Around him were the remains of what must have been pillars at one point, and one side of the structure was missing the top. There were also a series of staggered paths lining the walls. From these it didn't take him long to pinpoint his precise location.

"The Colosseum in the middle of Rome!" Lelouch could hardly believe it. This place...? He had heard of it from history classes. Britannia found it useful to study Empires of the past and teach of them. To glorify themselves and ensure the population did not succumb to the same traps and pitfalls, to learn and evolve. From those lessons he remembered: The Roman Empire would entertain its citizens by hosting brutal, barbaric games between prisoners, slaves and animals. Quite often these took the form of a fight to the death while the crowd bayed for blood.

And his feelings about waking up here were not improved in the slightest when he saw what was on the floor nearby. Guns. Rifles. Grenades. Swords. Knives. A mace, a flail, a spear and more besides. It was as if someone had decided to catalogue as many possible handheld weapons as possible, then dumped it all out on the floor around him. Why? What was the point?

There was only one point he could reach. The context made it obvious: 'Fight me to the death,' his kidnapper was saying. Motivation? Too many possibilities, too little data.

"Who are you?" he yelled. Stealth did not matter at this point, the enemy had them at their mercy for possibly hours. Killing him was not their objective. He knew that much already, but the rest was too lacking in information to reach a conclusion. "Show yourself! Who are you?"

"You've been taking care of me as long as I can remember," a voice said. A voice that made Lelouch stop breathing for a moment. He looked around for its source, but it seemed to echo all around him. "All I ever wanted was to make it up to you. Now I can."

Immediately Lelouch rushed out and around the ruined structure, used his Stand to make parts of it invisible. His search was frantic, wild. Completely unlike the normally composed and intelligent person he usually was, but that voice had made him lose all trace of sense and reason. All that mattered was the search, but there did not seem to be any sign at all. Where... Where were they?!

"You can make it up to me by coming home safely!" Lelouch cried out into the darkness.

"Home?" the voice asked. "That was all I ever wanted in the end. Home. Living peacefully with you. Suzaku, Euphemia, Cornelia, the student council... None of them mattered if I only had you."

This time he had a better bead on the direction. Over there! Towards the exit! Lelouch rushed towards it, having no care about the weapons at his feet. He tripped, and in his current state of mind even if he had landed on the knife and cut off a finger he would not have cared in the least. The source of that voice was all important to him. Not even his own wellbeing would matter!

"I'm only doing what is best for you." the voice continued, and she finally made her appearance. She rolled into the main section of the colosseum in her wheelchair. Eyes closed, yet brow set into deep concentration.

"Nunnally," Lelouch gasped in equal parts disbelief and relief. He stepped forward. "At last! You're safe! Come on, let's go home, we need to get you out of here before -"

A flick of her wrist and Nunnally had tossed a paper plane at him at frightening speed. A little blood trickled out from a cut on Lelouch's cheek. He touched it in disbelief. Nunnally... What sort of hold could JOJO have over her that would make her do that?

"You want to go home so badly?" Nunnally asked. "Do you even know where home is?"

"N-Nunnally, I don't understand! You're not making any sense!"

"He'll kill you," Nunnally said, gripping the side of her wheelchair so firmly her knuckles were turning white. "If you leave, then he will definitely kill you. The only way he won't is if you walk back from this path. But you can't do that. It's not in your nature."

None of this made any sense to him. None of it at all! Had JOJO threatened to harm him if she didn't play along? Was that why she was doing this? What was the point of all this? Lelouch stepped toward his sister.

And in response... She stood up.

"N-Nunnally! You're - you're standing!" Since when could she - He felt a flurry of emotions, a chaotic thunderstorm of joy and confusion, relief and despair. Lelouch could hardly believe it. His little sister could walk under her own power, but while that was true - It couldn't be! These weapons, this setting... It couldn't be that she expected him to fight her.

"There's only one solution to this," Nunnally continued. Her eyes snapped open, and Lelouch was struck by a menacing aura that sent him back three whole steps. She was taller than he was expecting. Almost as tall as him. "Prove to me... prove to me that you are strong enough to survive!"

Nunnally crossed her arms, and her hair raise rose up. Sparkling with Ripple energy as she fixed her gaze upon him.

"Fight me, or run away!"

[To Be Continued |\|]

Knightmare Stats

Mordred

User: Anya

Attack Strength: B

Attack Range: B

Defense: B

Speed: C

Terrain Handling: C

Required Pilot Skill: C

Abilities:

Four Shoulder Mounted Hadron Cannons: A pair of twin set Hadron Cannons. May be fired separately in different directions, or unfolded and combined into the Stark Hadron Cannon.

Blaze Luminous: Comes equipped with Blaze Luminous shielding, the project is attached to elbows.

Miniature Proximity Missile Launchers: Mounted on its wrists, top part of its chest, hips, and the bottom parts of its legs. Fires an array of missiles which detonate automatically on proximity detection with enemy.

Percival

User: Luciano

Attack Strength: B

Attack Range: D

Defense: B

Speed: C

Terrain Handling: C

Required Pilot Skill: C

Abilities

Right Arm Mounted Quad-Claw: Attached to wrist. Comes fitted with blaze luminous. May be spun around, turning the claw into an MVS Particle Drill-Lance.

Hip Mounted Hadron Blaster: Pointed hip armour may open up to reveal Hadron Blasters.

Missile Shield: Knightmare comes equipped with a shield that contains six hidden missile launchers.

Slash Harkens: Three equipped to Knightmare. Two shoulder mounted, one head mounted.