Hi everyone, welcome back. Before we begin, there are a few notes I'd like to make….

*First off, Happy (late) Birthday to Peter Cullen! The original (and in my personal opinion) and best voice actor for Optimus Prime. "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings", those words are etched into our very souls. Thank you, Mr. Cullen, for bringing to life such an amazing character.

*Second, while the destruction of the Thought Elevator on Kanime Island is a major set-back for Charles and company, it doesn't mean Ragnarok is no longer a threat. Only the use of a single Thought Elevator is required to activate it (along with two codes merged together), it doesn't need all the Thought Elevators to be activated.

*Third, I've heard quite a few people suggest the idea of Knightmares coming to life and becoming sentient thanks to Energon. Let me just say that is NOT going to happen, Energon is merely a fuel and it can only sustain life for Cybertronians, for machines that were never alive to begin with (such as Knightmares), it only serves as fuel nothing more. Otherwise Nemesis Prime would have become sentient in the cannon "Transformers: Prime" series. Only the All-Spark possess the power to truly create life. So, I am going to set this record straight. There will NOT be any sentient Knightmares in my story and that is final.

Now, with all that being said, let us begin.

The Patch Paradox

"Come with us." Zero said as he stood in the ruins of the auditorium, alongside Optimus Prime, offering his hand to the recently liberated Suzaku. "The Britannia you serve is nothing more than a delusion. A puppet empire on the strings of an even greater threat."

"Maybe that's true." Suzaku admitted before turning to the duo. "But this nation, it can be changed for the better and from within." He then turned around to walk away. "And any gains by contemptable means aren't worth anything."

"Wait, where are you going?" Zero asked.

"My court martial begins in an hour." Suzaku replied.

"Are you mad?!" Zero exclaimed in outrage. "The only reason they're even giving you a trial is to find you guilty! The judge, prosecution, and defense!"

"Rules are rules." Suzaku replied. "And if I don't go, they'll start cracking down on Elevens and Honorary Britannians."

"But you'll die!" Zero told him.

"I don't mind." Suzaku insisted.

"Don't be an idiot!" Zero shouted.

"You can stop me though, can't you?" Suzaku turned to face Optimus directly. "One of you happens to be a giant sentient machine far stronger than myself. If you want, you could stop me from leaving right here and now. So, I guess the real question is: will you allow me to leave of my own accord? Or force me to stay against my will?"

"Freedom is your right." Optimus replied. "If this is indeed what you choose, will respect your decision."

"Thank you." Suzaku nodded.

"However Suzaku, I ask for one thing." Optimus continued. "Now that we have made our appearance, the Decepticons will more than likely make an appearance as well. I implore you, do not trust them. There is one other thing. I want you to ask yourself a question. You say Britannia can change for the better; what if you go down this path… and you're wrong?"

"Well… I'll just have to hope I'm not." Suzaku said. "Even still, I thank you both, for saving me."

Suzaku had walked out of the ruined building, but he didn't get too far as a familiar voice spoke out.

"Well, well. You were so quick to turn down an offer, without even providing a solid answer." Suzaku looked up in surprise to see none other than Megatron standing over him. "Quite the contradictory, Suzaku Kururugi."

The young Honorary Britannian looked nothing short of stunned. "What?... what are you… how are you here? You're not supposed to be here!"

Megatron gave a knowing smile. "Maybe I wasn't here in the past, and that's exactly what we are seeing right now: the past… your past."

The exchange taking place between Megatron and Suzaku was witnessed by Shockwave, as well as the two Mini-Cons Frenzy and Rumble, on a monitor within the Nemesis' laboratory. Megatron and Suzaku's bodies were both lying flat on medical tables, albeit one built for Mini-Cons in the case of Suzaku as a cord connected to both of them from the back of their tables.

"This is gonna be juicy." Frenzy smirked as he, Rumble, and Shockwave paid close attention to what was about to play out before them.

"My past…?" Suzaku asked completely surprised. "What…? But… but how?"

"The Cortical Psychic Patch." Megatron explained as the background around them shifted from the previous memory to an empty void with a single light shining above them for illumination. "An interrogation technique that allows us to extract information directly from our prisoners' minds."

Suzaku looked even further shocked before he glared at Megatron. "You would pull information from people's minds against their will?!"

"Only when all other options have been exhausted." Megatron replied. "But I'm not the one on trial here. We are currently inside your mind, Suzaku Kururugi. You see there are no secrets here, only your memories. You cannot manipulate their content, or modify their outcome, what we see is how it happened."

A series of memories began to emerge in the form of holographic screens around the pair as they each played out in a style similar to that of a movie.

"Is it bad to be weak?" The memory of Suzaku's first meeting with Euphemia in Shinjuku played out. "Back when I was ten, the world seemed like such a terrible place; a world without any hope at all. Disease, racism, living a never-ending cycle of hate. The cycle must be broken, somebody has to do it! Of course, it's doubtful that the one who does it will make all the bad things go away. No one should lose more of the people they love, at least a world without war."

"How… how would you do it?" Euphemia's voice asked.

"I don't know how you would do it." Suzaku's voice replied. "But if I keep trying, they my father's death will have been for nothing!"

Next was the memory of Suzaku, Rai, and Lelouch in the Student Council room after the Black Knights' debut.

"Look, I'm not an idiot, I know the empire is far from perfect right now. But they could invoke change from within the system!" Suzaku's voice stated.

A third memory appeared of Suzaku and Euphemia talking in the Settlement.

"But Britannia also rebuilt Japan…" Suzaku's voice spoke out.

"Not all of it." The memory of Euphemia replied. "What about all the ghettos, or the fact that people have to earn their rights back? Rights that… honestly should never have been taken away?"

"Britannia… isn't perfect… I can admit that." Suzaku's voice replied. "But it can change for the better. It has the potential to do just that. I mean, you're a princess. The fact that you've just said how you don't approve of all this violence shows that Britannia isn't all bad."

"Britannia can change for the better, you say?" Megatron asked Suzaku as the memories came to an end. "And how exactly would you go about that?"

"By making them trust me!" Suzaku replied. "Once I have their trust, I can invoke the change from within!"

"And how can you earn their trust if you are unable to provide acceptable results?" Megatron questioned as he pulled out more of Suzaku's memories of his many defeats; such as the Lancelot being blown away by Bulkhead in Greece over the Energon Harvester; Suzaku being trapped by Airachnid during their first confrontation in Shinjuku; The Lancelot, Breakdown, and Airachnid being defeated by the combined efforts of the Guren, Gekka Pre-Production, Bulkhead, and Arcee.

"How can a soldier who's only known failure possibly make change in a system that is designed specifically to oppress people of your very stature?" Megatron questioned.

"But… none of that…" Suzaku tried to come up with a response. "The Autobots and the Black Knights…?"

"So, you choose not to accept responsibility for your own failures?" Megatron questioned even more irritably, this inadvertently caused a memory of Suzaku's to display itself, the memory of him, Dreadwing, and the captive Kallen on Kanime Island.

"Ironhide was right about you." Kallen's voice stated. "You cannot take responsibility for all the crap that you do in your life!"

Megatron looked in a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Even your enemies see this flaw in you. How sad." Suzaku was unable to come up with a proper argument, prompting Megatron to continue. "When I first saw your prowess in the Lancelot, I had believed you would be able to serve me well. However, even my patience has its limits, and you are reaching that as you have not yet scored a single victory against our enemies! And it's not just in the heat of battle either, it's your hesitance!"

The memory of Suzaku's and Breakdown's battle against Airachnid popped up as the Lancelot had Airachnid pinned down. "Surender now. I am placing you under arrest."

"Under arrest, am I?" The memory of Airachnid asked as she held up her hands with a smirk. "You still think you're the good guy?" She blasted her palm-lasers to blast the VARIS out of the Lancelot's hands before using her spider-legs to destroy it.

Next was the memory in Greece again as the Lancelot stood over the fallen Burai with Starscream, Breakdown, and Knock Out.

"This is the moment where you prove your worth Kururugi!" The memory of Starscream stated. "This is a Black Knight, an enemy to not only your empire of Britannia, but to the Decepticons as well. He is the reason this mission is a failure, and as your commanding officer I am ordering you to execute this Black Knight now!"

The memory showed Suzaku's hesitant face. "But… But I…"

"Do you plan on joining their ranks anytime soon?! No?! Then be done with it already!" The memory of Starscream exclaimed.

"Hesitance may be one thing… but insubordination is something else entirely!" Megatron stated as a more recent memory came to light; this one being of Suzaku attempting to stop Zero and the Autobots from escaping the Avalon's bombardment.

The memory showed a slit in Zero's mask opening to reveal his left eye as a certain red emblem shined. "LIVE!" However, the memory went to static before it shifted to Suzaku waking up on the shores of Kanime Island.

"Most peculiar." Shockwave observed the blackout in between the two memories. "It would seem that the memories of those under this specific Geass are invisible to the mind."

"So, he doesn't have any memories of it?" Rumble asked.

"Illogical." Shockwave replied. "Memories, be they from a Cybertronian or organic specimen, do not simply vanish, but are often repressed. And it would seem that the effects of Lelouch's Geass has repressed this particular memory."

"Maybe if we drill even deeper, we might be able to find it." Frenzy suggested somewhat sadistically.

"Perhaps." Shockwave responded. "But at the moment, Lord Megatron is in full control. And we cannot probe deeper without risking harm to the specimen. Lord Megatron has not ordered us to harm Kururugi during the process."

Frenzy looked rather disappointed. "Killjoy."

"Eh, we still get to watch Suzaku squirm, which makes me happy." Rumble smirked as they continued to watch.

"I… I don't remember that…" Suzaku stuttered as Megatron loomed over him.

"I can tolerate many things, my boy." The leader of the Decepticons said. "But among the few things I will not stand for, is an excuse. You can either deliver results, or you cannot."

"What is it you want from me?" Suzaku asked. "Do you want me to fight harder? Stronger?"

"No Suzaku." Megatron replied. "This is to determine whether or not you can truly contribute in this conflict. And if I deem that I have made a mistake in recruiting you, that you cannot make a contribution to our cause, not only will I remove you from the Decepticon ranks, but I will see to it that you are removed from the Britannian military as well. Permanently."

Ashford Clubhouse – Lelouch's room

The former prince sat on his bed as C.C. placed her hand on his forehead. After returning from Kanime Island, Optimus had insisted Lelouch visit C.C. to see if any changes had been made to his Geass, and after seeing how that mysterious object known as the Thought Elevator had a glowing Geass emblem on it, Lelouch agreed with Optimus as C.C. was able to use her powers to detect any abnormalities with his own Geass power.

C.C. removed her hand once she finished as Lelouch looked toward her. "Well?"

"Your Geass has grown significantly." C.C. answered. "And it's not by natural means. If I had to take a guess, I would say V.V. was likely the culprit." That got Lelouch's attention as she continued. "He must have rigged a trap with the Thought Elevator that would force your Geass to grow to the point where you can no longer control it."

"Like Mao?" Lelouch asked, to which C.C. nodded. "And I'm guessing you can't remove my Geass entirely, can you?"

"If I could do that, I would have done it with Mao before I left him." C.C. replied. "Once a Geass has been given, it becomes a permeant part of you. The only way for the power to be 'removed' is if it's replaced by a Code, which is the power I wield. You would gain immortality as well as the ability to grant Geass to others."

"Thanks, but I'll pass." Lelouch said immediately. "I don't want to outlive my friends and family."

C.C. gave a half-smile, relieved Lelouch wouldn't want that cursed power. "I did however manage to suppress your Geass' power. It's not exactly a permanent solution, but it should keep the power contained. However, if you use that power again, even two or three more times, there is a possibility you might lose control and it could become permanently active."

Lelouch grimaced at that particular thought. "Do the same limits apply?"

"Yes." C.C. answered. "You'd still have to make direct eye-contact. So even if it does become permeant, something like your mask, or even something simple like sunglasses or special contacts can block it."

"Alright." Lelouch nodded. "I'll talk with the Ratchet and Fixit about making special contacts just in case. I like my mask, but I don't want to wear it twenty-four-seven." He attempted a joke, which caused C.C. to smile slightly as she shook her head. "So that Thought Elevator, do you know what it was?"

C.C. looked seriously. "I'm not one hundred percent sure of its origin, but I do know that your father and uncle have taken an interest in them."

That got Lelouch's attention. "'Them'? You mean there's more?"

"Yes, a total of seven, excluding the one Optimus recently destroyed." C.C. began to explain. "They're all over the world, I don't know they're exact locations, but I do believe they may be connected to the origin of Geass, but I can't say for certain."

"I see, so not even you know where all this came from." Lelouch observed.

"I wasn't always immortal." C.C. continued. "I was once a normal person, till I was granted my own Geass and a different Code-bearer passed their ability onto me, and that was several centuries ago, I've honestly lost count."

Lelouch looked in sympathy, he could only wonder what that was like. To live constantly while watching everything and everyone else around you change, grow old and die, unable to form bonds with others. "I'm sorry."

C.C. sighed before she got back on point. "Your father and V.V. are somewhat obsessed with the Thought Elevators. I'm afraid I don't know a whole lot about their purpose since I left them a long time ago, but it seems they've gained a better understanding since then."

"Are these other Thought Elevators going to be a problem?" Lelouch asked.

"Not at the moment." C.C. replied. "If they do become a problem, you and Optimus will be the first to know."

"Thank you." Lelouch turned around and was about to leave before C.C. stood up.

"Speaking of knowing Lelouch, when do you plan to tell Nunnally?" That caused Lelouch to stop in his tracks. "If I'm being honest, I'd say now is the time to tell her. Her life is not currently in danger and she is here right now. If there was ever a good time to tell her, it would be now."

"I know." Lelouch admitted, still keeping his back turned. "It's just…"

"You're not sure how she'll react?" C.C. asked.

"I know I said I'd tell her but… but how?" Lelouch began, letting his nervous feelings be known. "I'm leading a rebellion against the empire we both called our home, while also being caught in the middle of an alien war… how the hell do you even say that to a girl like her?"

C.C. looked with understanding before she put a hand on his shoulder, prompting him to look at her. "Lelouch, you know your sister better than anyone else, and I've been around her long enough to know she might be one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life; I'd even go so far as to say her compassion is only rivaled by Optimus Prime himself. I'm sure once you explain everything, and how you're fighting for what's right, she'll understand. She loves you deeply, and I don't think there's anything in the world that'll make her change her mind."

Lelouch looked to C.C. in surprise, he remembered how he first met her when she was a cold cynic, now here she was, offering him genuine support as a friend. This was enough for him to smile as he knew he could trust the immortal completely. "Thank you, Cera."

She smiled, letting his use of her real name slide just this once.

"I could though use your help in explaining all of it to her." Lelouch said. "Especially when it comes to my Geass."

"Of course." C.C. nodded as they left the room.

It wasn't long before they walked into the dining room where Nunnally and Sayoko were folding origami. "Nunnally." Lelouch got their attention.

"Hello Lelouch." Nunnally smiled as she turned her head in the direction of her brother's voice.

"I have something to tell you, Nunnally." Lelouch said as he sat across from her.

"What is it?" Nunnally asked.

"Sayoko, would you give us a minute?" C.C. asked the maid, but Lelouch quickly raised his hand.

"Actually, I want to talk to you to, Sayoko." Lelouch said, surprising C.C. as well as the maid in question as Lelouch looked toward her specifically. "You've always taken such good care of us, even when knowing who we are. The least I can do is tell you this as well, as thanks for everything you've done."

Sayoko had an understanding look on her face as she sat down, right as Lelouch reached out and gently grabbed his younger sister's hand. Nunnally looked a bit confused as she could sense some emotional turmoil in her brother.

"Lelouch, is something wrong?"

He gave a sigh before he spoke. "Nunnally, there's… there's no easy way to say this. So… I'll just come right out with it." Lelouch hesitated for a moment before his face became serious and he spoke to his sister with two simple words. "I'm Zero."

The entire room fell deathly silent as C.C. found herself looking from the siblings to Sayoko, who simply had wide eyes and a mouth over her hand at this revelation. Lelouch honestly felt more uncomfortable than he ever been in his life. He just revealed his secret identity to his sister, but she didn't respond at first. He didn't know how she would respond, and just waiting for a response was almost agonizing. Finally, after what seemed almost like an eternity, when it was really just a few seconds, he heard a faint sob.

Lelouch looked with surprise and sympathy as he saw tears flowing down the closed eyes of his younger sister. "I… I didn't want to believe…"

Nobody had expected Nunnally to say that; C.C. was honestly shocked by this, but none were more surprised than Lelouch himself.

"You… you knew…?"

"When… you rescued Suzaku…" Nunnally sniffled. "Once I heard your voice… my heart told me that it was you. But… I didn't… I didn't want to believe it…" Tears were already flowing down her face. "Lelouch… have… have you really been fighting Britannia all this time? Putting your own life in danger?"

Though young revolutionary was certainly surprised that Nunnally had known the whole time, he inwardly winced as the last thing he wanted was to make his sister worry like this. Despite this however, Lelouch knew he had to tell her the whole truth now.

"I'm sorry Nunnally." Lelouch began. "But… I couldn't stand by and do nothing anymore. For so long, I've tried to ignore the suffering that went on around us, I've tried to block it out, thinking there was nothing I can do. But… I can't do that anymore… I can't just sit and watch as monsters rip this world apart and ruin so many lives. I'm sorry I took so long to tell you, I've wanted to, but things just kept getting in the way."

"I'm quite sure." Sayoko spoke up. "It must not have been easy, given you're not only facing Britannia, but even the likes of the Decepticons." That took Lelouch, C.C., and even Nunnally by surprise. "I've suspected you were Zero for quite some time Lelouch, and it's partly the reason why I've been with the Black Knights as well."

If they weren't surprised, the three of them certainly were now. "Sayoko…?" Nunnally stuttered.

"You're in the Black Knights?!" Lelouch almost shouted. "How come I never knew!"

"For one, there are so many recruits I don't think even you can keep track of them all." Sayoko replied, even C.C. silently admitted that was true. "And I haven't been in for very long, Diethard Ried only recently recruited me as a spy."

'Of course.' Lelouch silently cursed. 'Damn fanatic… he's useful, but he's also a real pain.'

"Sayoko…" Nunnally wasn't sure what to make of that either.

"Forgive me for not telling you sooner, Lady Nunnally." Sayoko bowed humbly. "I joined because I felt if something were to happen, and if I was right about your brother being Zero, we could move you safely and out of harm."

Lelouch understood then why she joined the Black Knights and was inwardly glad he could have someone else that he trusted with him. "Thank you, Sayoko."

C.C. then spoke up. "Nunnally, I understand that all of this is incredibly shocking for you. But you have to listen to what your brother has to say, it's not just about fighting Britannia."

"She's right." Lelouch continued as he still held Nunnally's hand. "Do you remember that night when I rescued Suzaku? I wasn't alone then."

"Those Autobots I've heard about?" Nunnally asked.

"Yes." Lelouch confirmed. "There's more to them than meets the eye, and you should know the whole backstory."

From then, Lelouch and C.C. had told both Nunnally and Sayoko everything. They told her about the incident in Shinjuku, how Lelouch met C.C. as well as the Autobots, and even about his Geass ability, with C.C. revealing her own immortality. Lelouch also explained everything he learned from Optimus about Cybertron, his history with Megatron, and the war against the Decepticons, and even about Cybertron's destruction, and the possibility of the Decepticons being the true masterminds behind Britannia. They also told her about some of the Autobots individually; including the reveal that Lelouch's car is the Autobot scout Bumblebee, something Sayoko already figured out on her own; and even about their leader Optimus Prime. There was also the reveal of the individual named V.V. who was Lelouch and Nunnally's paternal uncle, and that Kallen, Rai, and Shirley were also members of the Black Knights. He even told her about his encounter with Cornelia and his more recent one with Euphemia on Kanime Island. But what was most difficult, was Suzaku's involvement of the Decepticons, but Lelouch had told her that, and even the truth of Suzaku's father's death.

It took quite some time, but Lelouch had told Nunnally everything. Now he, Sayoko, and C.C. just looked toward Nunnally who had listened to every word but had yet to offer a response.

"Nunnally… are you still with us?" Lelouch asked somewhat nervously.

"Yes…" Nunnally replied. "It's just… it's a lot to take in."

"I know, and I'm sorry for that." The eldest of the Vi Britannian siblings said understandingly.

"It's just… It's all so sad." Nunnally said. "First, your friends lose their whole world, and now Suzaku… I had no idea… his own father and… he's with this… this… Megatron?"

"I'm afraid so." Lelouch said gravely.

"Isn't there anything you can do to help him?" Nunnally asked, sounding almost desperate. "If Suzaku knows your Zero…"

"It's not that simple, Nunnally." Lelouch told her. "I want to help him more than anything, but it's not just getting him away from the Decepticons. Listen, one of the issues is Suzaku has proven that he's unable to accept his own mistakes and won't take responsibility for them. He's always blaming others for what goes wrong, while also ignoring all the atrocities committed by both Britannia and the Decepticons. If we are able to help Suzaku, he has to admit he made the wrong choice and take responsibility. If he can't do that… then… I don't know if we can help him."

"Well… maybe I can help him." Nunnally offered in a pleading tone of voice. "He's my friend to. I'm sure maybe both of us together can convince him."

"I'm hopping that's the case." Lelouch replied. "But Nunnally, we also have to be careful as to not put ourselves in danger against the likes of the Decepticons. Trust me, as horrible as our father is, Megatron is even worse."

"I still want to try." Nunnally said. "I still want…"

"And we will." Lelouch assured her. "But we also have to be prepared if it doesn't work." He noticed the conflicted and torn look on her face. "Nunnally, I am so sorry I never told any of you this sooner, maybe I should have. But, you have to believe me, I'm not alone in this. I've got so many people that I can trust who are helping me; both in the Black Knights and the Autobots, and we all want the same thing: to make the world a gentler place. Isn't that what you want?"

Nunnally grimaced slightly. "Lelouch I… what I said to you… how I wished the world were a gentler place… I really did mean that, I do want the world to be a gentler place. But, really, what I want more than anything, is just to stay by your side." That took Lelouch by surprise as she held his hand even tighter. "I can't imagine the world without you, Lelouch. Even if the world becomes a better place, I don't want to live in it if you're not there. I know I'm being selfish, but I don't care. I just want you to be by my side. That's all I need to be happy."

Tears were already flowing down the disabled girl's eyes as Lelouch himself looked quite a bit emotional. Sayoko had placed a comforting hand on Nunnally's shoulder while C.C. just looked in sympathies.

"Nunnally, I'm not going anywhere." Lelouch told her. "I promise, I'm not going to die or leave, I've got many friends to help me every step of the way. It's okay to be selfish, you're only human. Nunnally, I make this promise to you right now from the bottom of my heart: I will never leave you, and I will make this world a place where everyone can be happy. We will make this world a better place, both myself and Optimus."

Nunnally, despite having tears in her eyes, smiled at Lelouch. "You really look up to him, don't you?"

"He's like a father to me." Lelouch confessed honestly with a smile. "And I'm hoping he can be that for you as well."

"Does that mean I'm going to meet him?" Nunnally asked.

"Soon." Lelouch assured. "Nunnally, listen to me. We might not be able to stay at Ashford much longer. Milly and her grandfather have done so much for us, but the Black Knights and the Autobots are on pretty rough territory right now against Britannia and the Decepticons. If things escalate, or worse, they find out who we are, they might just level the entire school." That caused Nunnally to gasp in shock. "Which is why we should leave soon so they don't have a reason to target it. Tell you what, you know the School Festival that's coming up soon? We'll leave right after that. That gives us plenty of time to get everything situated. Will that be alright with you Sayoko?" He asked the maid specifically.

"Yes, I believe I can manage that." Sayoko assured.

"After that Nunnally, we'll take you to the Ark." Lelouch told his sister. "Not only will you be safe there, you'll meet plenty of good people and Bots. And given how advanced Cybertronian technology is, we might even find a way to restore your sight and legs."

Nunnally slowly reached out and caressed her brother's cheek as she smiled. "Lelouch, I told you before that I trust you. And that hasn't changed in the slightest. Even if you're Zero, I still believe in you. If you believe the Autobots and Black Knights are good people, then I know I can trust them to."

"You really trust me that much?" Lelouch asked, feeling more than a little emotional.

"I've never stopped trusting you." Nunnally assured. "You'll always be my big brother, Lelouch. And I love you with all my heart."

Lelouch couldn't contain his tears of joy as he wrapped his arms around Nunnally, who responded with the same gesture. "I love you too, Nunnally."

Both Sayoko and C.C. smiled as the former was already shedding a small tear of joy, and even the later looked like she would do the same, but she ultimately didn't, despite being happy for them. However, she knew they had another issue to address.

"Lelouch, as touching as all this is, you should really see Optimus and the others about your Geass before it becomes a problem." C.C. advised.

"Yeah, I know." Lelouch reluctantly ended his embrace with his sister. "Sorry Nunnally, but I have to go."

"It's alright, I understand." Nunnally nodded.

Lelouch then looked toward Sayoko. "Can I trust you to help C.C. watch over Nunnally till we're ready to move?"

"Of course, you can, my lord." The ninja-maid nodded. "Lelouch, you and your sister are both very dear to me, and I swear that I will never leave your side or hers."

"Thank you." Lelouch smiled gratefully. "Hey Nunnally, I might have to leave, but… maybe I can introduce you to another close friend of mine while I'm gone."

Lelouch, C.C., and Sayoko had arrived along with Nunnally in a large storage area where a certain blue Knightmare was being stored. It was the third generation, Ganymede, once owned and piloted by Lelouch and Nunnally's late mother. Though seeing it again made Lelouch's heart wince slightly, it was the only safe place for Nunnally to safely converse with his Autobot companion.

"It's alright, you can come out." Lelouch spoke to a shadowed area as a certain yellow car slowly drove out before it transformed to reveal itself to be Bumblebee. Though Sayoko had seen them on television, she was more than a little amazed at seeing an Autobot in person before. Though Nunnally couldn't see him, she could almost feel his presence, and she could already tell it was a gentle one, which was enough for her to smile.

"[So, you finally told her.]" Bumblebee addressed Lelouch.

"Better late than never." Lelouch smiled before turning to his sister. "Nunnally, meet Bumblebee."

Nunnally giggled. "Bumblebee? That's a cute name." She said before addressing the Autobot scout. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"[Nice to meet you too.]" Bumblebee spoke in bleeps, which only caused Nunnally to look in confusion.

"I'm sorry… what?"

"He said it's nice to meet you to." C.C. translated.

"Oh right, forgot." Lelouch took out his own earpiece and placed it in his sister's own ear. "Sorry about that, his voice-box was damaged in battle. This should help you to understand him better."

"[Can you understand me now?]" Bumblebee asked in bleeps as the earpiece helped to translate it for Nunnally, causing her to smile.

"Yes, I can understand you. Lelouch has told me a lot about you, Bumblebee."

"[Hopefully the good stuff.]" Bumblebee joked, causing Nunnally to giggle as even Sayoko and C.C. smiled.

"I have to go. Take care of her for me, alright Bee?" Lelouch asked his partner and friend.

"[Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to her.]" Bumblebee assured.

Lelouch nodded as he took out his cell phone and called the Ark. "Fixit, I need a Groundbridge." Less than a second later, a small Groundbridge portal opened up in front of him, allowing him to step inside as he let Bumblebee finally get acquainted with his younger sister.

Meanwhile, several Decepticon miners worked to drill their way through the landscape of Kanime Island, using both large and small excavation tools. One would think they were looking for Energon, but that was not the case. Leading this excavation were the pair of Soundwave and Airachnid.

"They're close." Airachnid said to Soundwave as she could sense it. "I can feel them."

"Soundwave, sir. We believe we located something. " One Vehicon reported, prompting both Soundwave and Airachnid to transform into their respective vehicle modes and fly toward the location of the soldier that called to them.

They flew towards the center of the island where they spotted a group of Vehicons gathering around a large hole that led deep underground. Both transformed back into their robot forms and landed.

"This may be the point of entry." The Vehicon who called them reported.

"Hmm, it does seem like this was dug out recently." Airachnid noted the structure of the hole as Soundwave did a quick scan, and soon detected multiple Cybertronian signals inside. "Looks like we found what we were looking for." Airachnid smirked.

"We will assemble an escort group immediately." A different Vehicon stated.

"That won't be necessary. Come along Soundwave." Airachnid leapt into the hole, with Soundwave leaping down after her.

It was a rather deep drop, almost four hundred feet, prompting Airachnid to extend her spider-legs and cling to the wall of the hole to halt her fall before she leapt to the ground. Soundwave had done something similar by extending his tentacles to grab onto both walls of the hole before retracting them and letting him drop to the bottom with no issue.

The pair walked onto a sight that made even Airachnid look in surprise. "So, it would seem Kickback and his team were only scouts."

What laid before them appeared to be an entire Insecticon hive. Pods of all shapes and sizes were lined on the floor, walls, and even ceiling. There appeared to be a number of at least a hundred pods in total.

Once the two made their way closer, a few of the pods began to open as series of different types of Insecticons crawled from the walls or dropped from the ceiling to address the pair. Two were among the larger variety that Optimus, Bumblebee, and Dreadwing had faced on this island, two more Insecticons appeared to be the Swarmer breed, while there was even one Bruiser. There were even a trio of Spitters that hovered in the air. The Insecticons growled at the intruders.

"Oh, there is no need to be so hostile." Airachnid said in a casual tone, while also communicating on a certain frequency that allowed her to establish proper communication with them. "After all, we are somewhat related." With those words, the Insecticons present all bowed before the pair of Decepticons, to Airachnid specifically, something Soundwave noticed.

"Now then, who here is in charge?" Airachnid asked.

In response, another Insecticon appeared. He looked almost identical to the largest bi-pedal ones, the only difference is that his body was covered in white claw-streaks, whether they were paint or actual scars was up for debate. "I lead this hive. I am Hardshell."

"Hardshell." Airachnid noted. "You look different from how I last saw you. Before, you relied on weaponry and tactics as opposed to brute force. What's with the new look?"

"After experiencing defeat at the hands of the Autobot named Grimlock, I realized that tactics and weaponry alone can only get you so far." Hardshell answered. "True power is strength, true power is ruthlessness, terror absolute! And so, I've adopted a form that would best suit raw strength, so the next time I see that accursed Autobot, I shall terminate him with my own bare hands!"

Airachnid looked amused. "I'm sure you'll get your chance at revenge. Perhaps a test run is in order?" She turned to Soundwave with sinister intent as she practically had an army under her complete and total control now. "Eviscerate him!"

"No." Hardshell said simply as he and the Insecticons present made no move to attack.

"What?!" Airachnid turned to Hardshell in shock.

"Our loyalty lies only to Lord Megatron." Hardshell stated. "We will not betray him!"

"How dare…!" Airachnid however was interrupted by Soundwave who replayed Shockwave's radio log through his recordings.

"Insecticons communicate on a specific ultrasonic frequency. I have found I can manipulate 85.7% of their species through this method. The exceptions being Hardshell, Sharpshot, and Kickback. Those anomalies appeared to be more evolved and require more finesse in their manipulation."

"You perfected the process?" Airachnid questioned irritably to Soundwave who responded with a simple nod before suddenly grabbing Airachnid by the throat and pinning her against the wall. He then played a recording of Megatron for her to hear.

"You will find a way to work together. There will be no further fighting among our own ranks! If any of you try this again… you will all perish!"

Airachnid grimaced upon hearing those words again, even more so as she felt the pressure on her neck as Soundwave continued to squeeze to make sure she got the point. "I… yield…"

Soundwave then released her as he went to address the Insecticon hive to see how they might be useful to their cause. Airachnid meanwhile had pulled herself up as she glared at Soundwave from behind, she knew she couldn't take him, one of the few Cybertronians to even match Megatron in gladiator combat, and with her being watched by him so closely, she couldn't make a move to control the Insecticon hive as it seems the Decepticons have found a way to control them through their ultrasonic frequency communications. So, there was no way she could strike out on her own, yet. She would play along for now and simply wait for the right opportunity.

Suzaku's Mind

While still in the trawls of Megatron's Cortical Psychic Patch, the Honorary Britannian could honestly look in shock at what Megatron had just told him.

"You… you can't kick me out of the Britannian military!" Suzaku quickly tried to form an argument. "You don't have the authority! I'm Princess Euphemia's knight, only she or someone else in the Royal Family can dismiss me!"

"Euphemia has no say in this matter!" Megatron retorted. "Even if you are her knight, I can easily convince someone else in her family with higher authority to not only dismiss your status, but even remove you from the military entirely. It can be done, and it will be, unless you can provide me with results. So, tell me, Suzaku Kururugi, how would you go about providing me said results?"

"By… by…" Suzaku stuttered before trying to stand firm. "By following orders and by stopping the enemy…"

"How?" Megaron questioned. "You keep saying what you'll do, but you never explain how. This has always been a problem for you Suzaku, you have a goal in mind but no plan to accomplish it, and you never learn, your arrogance and stubbornness will trump your skills and resolve every time. Its why you've failed to defeat or even capture a single enemy."

A series of memories soon played in Suzaku's mind; first being Bumblebee knocking him down away from Zero and C.C. at Narita, next his defeat at the hands of Optimus during the Battle of Port Yokosuka, then was his failure to properly apprehend Tohdoh during his escape from prison. But there was one memory that stood out among the others.

"Stop it!" Suzaku's memory of him trying to apprehend Mao replayed as the former tried to hold the later.

"Get your hands off me, father-killer!"

Suzaku's pupils shrunk as even Megatron was caught by surprise at this revelation. "Father-killer?" The Leader of the Decepticons questioned with interest.

"No!" Suzaku panicked and tried to stop him. "No! You can't…!" But it was too late, the memory of that very incident was already brought up and being watched.

"Father, you can't do this!" The ten-year-old Suzaku tried to plead with his father, Genbu Kururugi. "So many people will die if you do this!"

"Better that, than live a life of slavery!" Genbu argued. "You would have Britannia destroy our people's spirit and livelihoods?!"

"I'm sure we can work something out with Britannia! We don't have to fight them!" The young Suzaku continued. "We can't fight them! They're too strong!"

"I will not have Japan be remade into a puppet of this fascist regime!" Genbu stated. "Even if Japan dies, she will die fighting! This country will not join Britannia!"

"No… I can't let you do this…" Young Suzaku acted quickly as he pulled a kunai blade from the wall and pointed it to his father, his hands and eyes shaking.

Genbu however wasn't convinced. "Put that thing down before you hurt yourself, boy." He said as he marched over to the shaky Suzaku. "You're a child, you can't understand how the world works. Britannia will never help Japan, or anyone else. All they live for is destruction. This is happening, and you can't stop it." He smacked his young son on the head to knock him to the ground.

As the Prime Minister began to walk out however, Suzaku got up, desperation mixing with his own instincts propelled him to drive the blade into his father's chest, shocking Genbu Kururugi as he fell to his hands and knees. Suzaku himself gasped in shock at what he just done.

The memory came to an end as Suzaku's body shook, both in and outside the Patch. The last thing he wanted was to see that memory again. He tried so hard to bury it, hopping it could never be resurfacing, but it seems that nothing ever stays buried forever.

"Now I see." Megatron spoke as Suzaku slowly turned around to see the look on Megatron's face, only to look in shock to see a smile was there. "I understand, now it makes sense. This is why you joined the military; you really don't care what happens to Britannia or Japan, you just want to wash the blood off your hands."

"That's not true!" Suzaku tried. "I do care!"

Megatron however could see right through Suzaku. "In the eyes of Britannia, you are an 'Eleven', someone who is expendable. You knew you would eventually die; they would send you to your death and if it's for a cause you deem to be righteous, it will redeem yourself. I'm right, aren't I, Suzaku?"

Multiple memories displayed themselves for the pair. The first being Suzaku shot in the back after refusing to kill Lelouch during the Shinjuku incident, the second being in the Lancelot as he rushed into the collapsing hotel during the Hotel Jacking, the third was the more recent memory of him trying to prevent Zero or Optimus from leaving the bombardment on Shikinie Island. Suzaku fell to his knees as he held his head, his whole body and eyes shaking with panic and fear, with a bit of realization thrown in the mix. He was almost tempted to scream, the same way he did when Mao revealed all this to him as well.

"I can only wonder who else knows of this?" Megatron wondered aloud as the shocked Suzaku gazed up towards him. "I'm quite certain the late Prime Minister's inner circle knows, having told the story of his 'suicide' to the public. But, are they only ones? Does someone else know?"

"So, you did do it, didn't you?" They both looked the memory of Lelouch and Rai helping Suzaku once they learned the truth. "You really did kill your own father?"

"Lelouch…"

"Lelouch? Someone close to you?" Megatron mused as he himself already knew this particular secret and choose to exploit it in order to properly manipulate Suzaku, who looked even more shocked as he tried once again to stop him.

"No! Don't!"

But it was too late; two memories replayed in Suzaku's mind. The first was Lelouch meeting Suzaku on the roof of Ashford Academy…

"Seven years since we used this signal, long time, huh?" The memory of Lelouch spoke.

The second was his reunion with the blind and crippled Nunnally later that night…

"Thank heaven!" The memory of Nunnally cried as she held his hand close to her face "I knew it! I just knew you'd be alright!"

"It's been a long time, Nunnally." The memory of Suzaku smiled.

"Lelouch and Nunnally?" Megatron mused as Suzaku panicked even more. "They wouldn't happen to be Prince Lelouch Vi Britannia and Princess Nunnally Vi Britannia, would they?"

Before Suzaku could even offer a protest, they both saw the image of the young Prince and Princess' arrival in japan and meeting Suzaku for the first time. The resemblance was enough to give Megatron the confirmation he supposedly needed.

"Well, what do you know?" Megatron said with a chuckle. "The children of the late 'Marianne the Flash' live after all. I'm sure Charles would be most happy to hear…"

"No! You… you can't…!" Suzaku exclaimed as he pleaded, which only caused Megatron to sneer even more, knowing he found his weakness.

"Why not? You were the one who said Britannia can change from within. Why are you afraid?" Megatron mused. "Is it because deep down you know that this Empire cannot truly change? That you're afraid your dear friends would be exploited by their own family?" Seeing the shaking and panicked look on Suzaku would all but confirm it. "Yes, I believe that is the case, isn't it? And with this, I believe we have found something you truly fear more than your own death. Something that we should keep to ourselves, wouldn't you agree?"

Suzaku looked quite stunned by what he said. "What… what are you…?"

"I've changed my mind, Suzaku." Megatron told him. "I will allow you to remain within our ranks, you may even stay as Euphemia's knight. However, let me make one thing perfectly clear, young Kururugi. From this point forward, you will do everything I say, even if I order you to execute an enemy. If you refuse an order, even a minor one, I will tell Charles that Lelouch and Nunnally still live, and I will leave their fates to him. Am I clear?"

It was a nightmare for Suzaku, the two people that he wanted to protect more than anything had just been exposed and were threatened to be revealed. But he still had a chance to protect them, and he would do whatever it takes, even if it means selling his own soul to the devil.

Suzaku then bowed before the leader of the Decepticons as he gave his answer. "Yes, Lord Megatron. I… I will do what you… ask. Just please… leave them alone."

"You have my word." Megatron sneered before speaking aloud. "Shockwave, we are done here."

Shockwave, Rumble, and Frenzy had seen everything that had transpired in the Patch and had been given the order to end it; prompting Shockwave to walk towards Megatron's stasis body as Frenzy and Rumble did the same for Suzaku.

"And that's a wrap." Rumble said as Frenzy disconnected the Patch, allowing Suzaku to wake up.

"Megatron sures know how to 'patch' things up, eh Kururugi?" Frenzy mocked, causing the only human present to hang his head down in shame.

Shockwave had likewise disconnected the patch from Megatron, allowing him to awaken as well before glancing at the human under his command "Suzaku Kururugi, you are dismissed."

Suzaku, albeit shakingly, got up from the lab table and proceeded to walk out from the lab, but with his back turned to the Decepticons, he allowed the horror-filled and regretful face to be visible as dread filled his whole being.

'Lelouch, Nunnally, I'm so sorry.' He thought to himself as he left, the door closing behind him, leaving Megatron alone with Shockwave and the two Mini-Cons.

"Oh Lord Megatron, while you were out of it, Soundwave contacted us." Frenzy told his leader.

"He found a whole hive of Insecticons on that one island, and they're all under our control." Rumble finished.

"Excellent." Megatron sneered.

"Lord Megatron." Shockwave spoke up. "I do not quite understand what we have gained from this. You've already known the status of the vi Britannia siblings, as well as Lelouch's identity as Zero. This may have appeared to only shake Suzaku's resolve, which could logically lead to him possibly defecting to the Autobots and the Black Knights."

"Maybe, but I have found a way to properly pull on his strings." Megatron replied. "And even if you are right Shockwave, and he does end up joining Optimus and Lelouch, it's a small price to pay compared to what we've gained recently, with both the Insecticon hive, as well as knowledge of Charles' precious Ragnarok."

"By the way, V.V. is still locked up here. Just letting you know." Rumble informed.

"Good." Megatron nodded as he smirked evilly. "Suzaku Kururugi may be currently Euphemia's knight, but he is also my pawn."

The Ark

Lelouch sat in the living quarters of the bridge along with Shirley and Rai as Fixit wheeled up with small container in his hands; Optimus, and Bulkhead were all present as well. In regards to the others; Arcee and Cliffjumper were staying near Kallen's place as she was worried her identity could be revealed to the military, so the trio stood on standby in order to help Kallen's mother at a moment's notice; Wheeljack and Ratchet worked with Rakshata and her team in terms of modifying and improving upon the recently acquired Gawain; and Ironhide was with Ohgi, Tohdoh, and Tamaki in helping some new recruits train with their Knightmares.

Fixit handed the container to Lelouch. "Two specially made contact lenses as you requested." Fixit reported as Lelouch took the lenses out and placed them in both his eyes. "You should still be able to see properly, while the lenses should also prevent your Geass from accidentally controlling anybody within your eye-sight. How do they feel?"

"Pretty comfortable." Lelouch replied.

"We should at least test them to make sure they work." Optimus proposed.

"Do it on me." Bulkhead volunteered, much to everyone's surprise. "Well, C.C. did say it got stronger. Maybe it can affect Bots and Cons now."

"I don't want to take that big of a risk." Lelouch replied. "C.C. also said if I use it only two or three more times, I might lose control. I'd rather not have that happen until I fully master its power."

"Then use it on me." Shirley immediately stood up, much to everyone's further surprise. "You haven't used it on me before. Plus, it doesn't have to be anything serious, just ask me to do jumping-jacks or something." When it looked like he was about to protest, Shirley gave him assuring smile. "Lulu, it's alright. Let me help you. I want to help you."

Instinctively, Lelouch glanced towards Optimus who gave a nod of approval before he turned toward the schoolgirl turned Black Knight. "Alright, Shirley…" He activated his Geass under his contact lenses. "…Hop on one foot five times."

However, the sigil did not enter her eyes and she still had full control. "Nope. I don't want to." She said with a smirk.

This was pleasing to the group as they all smiled. "It would appear the contact lenses are a distress…. Access…. Success!"

"Great, now if we can only fix up that glitching of yours." Bulkhead joked, resulting in Shirley laughing and even Lelouch smirking. However, once he paid a glance at Rai, Bulkhead noticed something odd. "Hey, Rai, are you alright?"

Rai was brought out of whatever kind of trance he was in as he looked toward them with his pale face, bags under his eyes, which appeared to be a bit red themselves. "What…?"

"Rai, are you alright?" Shirley asked with concern. "You looked like you hadn't slept for days."

"I… I just had some trouble… sleeping, yeah what you said…" Rai stuttered, but both Optimus and Lelouch knew something was off.

"Rai, is something the matter?" Optimus asked, but Rai didn't appear to answer as his body shook slightly. It stopped when Lelouch stood up and he placed a hand on his shoulder, and he gave his friend a concerning yet serious look.

Seeing how it looked like they weren't going to let him leave without hearing what was on his mind, he spoke. "I… I got my memories back." That took them all by surprise. "All of them."

Shirley was the first to smile. "Rai… that's great! I'm so happy for you!"

However, Rai was far from happy about it. "In all honestly though, I wish I hadn't."

To say they were stunned was an understatement. "What are you talking about?" Bulkhead asked his partner. "Rai, you've been wanting to get your memories back for a long time, now you're saying you actually don't want them? That doesn't make sense."

"Maybe you remembered an unpleasant memory." Fixit suggested. "I have often heard that humans are able to overcome such unpleasantries by speaking their minds and their friends offer emotional support. So, please speak your mind so that we may offer said support."

Rai wasn't sure where to start first, but he spoke none the less. "First off, my name isn't Rai. It's Kaizaren… Kaizaren Von Britannia." That caused all their eyes to widen in shock, even Optimus was stunned. "My father's… is Charles Zi Britannia."

Lelouch's eyes widened at that revelation as he shared a surprised glance with Optimus. "What…?" But his revealed half-brother wasn't done yet.

"My mother's name… Sakura Kururugi." Rai continued.

"Kururugi?!" Shirley questioned. "As in… Suzaku?"

"Sakura was the elder sister of Genbu Kururugi." Rai replied. "But… they never married. They had an affair that was kept secret, as well as my existence, and that of my sister."

"Sister?!" Lelouch, Shirley, Fixit, and Bulkhead all exclaimed at the same time.

"Her name was Erina Von Britannia." Rai continued.

"So, you are…" Optimus spoke.

"Yeah, I'm not only half-Britannian and half-Japanese, I'm Lelouch's half-brother, and Suzaku's cousin." Rai confirmed. "Oh, and you know that woman from the Knights of Round, Nonette Enneagram? Yeah, she was my personal knight."

Though they were all surprised by this, Shirley was the first to speak up. "Wait, if you and your sister were both supposed to be kept secret, where did you live?"

"In the Philippines, it's not that far from Japan." Rai answered.

"It was also considered neutral territory between the expanding Britannia as well as Japan, so it does seem a logical place to hide a pair of half-breed royals who would likely be ostracized and even lynched by the rest of the royal family." Lelouch said.

"I also heard it suffered enormous casualties from the Britannian military as well as the civilians who lived there when it was invaded alongside Japan seven years ago." Fixit put in, causing Rai to wince rather hardly.

"So, you're the son of that wannabe Megatron, big deal. We got another one right here and he's a personified badass." Bulkhead stated.

"Thank you, Bulkhead." Lelouch paid him a quick thanks before turning back to his friend, revealed half-brother. "I can't imagine how much of a shock this is for you Rai, but…"

"I'm not done yet." Rai said. "I know how I got my Geass."

"V.V.?" Optimus asked.

"Yep." Rai confirmed. "I didn't know he was my uncle; he just came to me one day and offered me a contract. He would give me the power to help protect my mother and sister. I loved them both with all my heart, they were my entire world, along with Nonette, who was my only friend. And in return, I would help him and his brother 'fulfill their dream'." He used air-quotes. "Though he didn't say what it was. I knew how dangerous the rest of the royal family was, and I didn't trust my father, so I accepted it, and I got my Geass. Not long after that, Japan was invaded, along with the Philippines. We didn't even have a proper military, so there was no way to fight the invading army."

"Rai… I… I'm so sorry…" Shirley tried to say to him. "But, I'm sure whatever they did to you and your family, we can find a way to make sure they get brought to justice. If Lelouch and Optimus turn over enough rocks, they can find out who did it and…"

"That's just the thing though, Shirley." Rai looked up as his face was filled with so much emotional pain. "I'm the one who did it…"

Nobody saw that coming; Bulkhead, Shirley, Lelouch, Fixit, even Optimus were completely stunned by that revelation.

"Britannia invaded our home… but I didn't want to lose it… it was all my family had…" Rai stuttered as a turmoil of sadness, anger, and regret filled his being. "Something in me snapped… I… I used my Geass and ordered everyone to fight back… everyone! Even my own mother and sister! They grabbed guns… knives… swords… gardening tools… whatever was handy and fought back…. It was a bloodbath. When it was over…I walked through a field that was red with blood before…. Before I found them…" Tears were already in his eyes. "My mother… and my sweet little sister… both their bodies filled with holes and lying dead on the ground…"

Shirley gave a gasp she covered her mouth in horror. Bulkhead and Fixit were more shocked than they've ever been, even Lelouch looked in a mixture of shock and sympathy. Optimus had nothing but complete and utter sympathy for the tormented youth.

"The woman who gave birth to me…. Who loved me… and my little Erina… who looked up to me… her big brother…" Rai was already sobbing. "And I got them killed…. I… lost everything and… I wanted to end it…" Everyone gasped as they all had a good idea what that meant. "I picked up a gun and… aimed it at my head…" His tone then became one filled with anger. "Then… he came… that little monster V.V… who didn't even have an ounce of empathy… told me that I had to fulfil his end of our contract. I turned the gun on him and unloaded it. When that didn't work, I tried to strangle him with my bare hands, telling him and his brother they can go to hell!" He shouted in anger as tears of sorrow and rage flowed down his face. "Then… he put me in the Thought Elevator."

That really got their attention. "A Thought Elevator?" Optimus asked. "Similar to the one I destroyed on Kanime Island?"

"That very same one, in fact." Rai answered, still filled with anger and sorrow. "I… I was frozen inside it… some kind of stasis I guess… for seven years. It's… it's why I'm the same age as I was then… I tried to resist, but I couldn't… so, I used my Geass on myself… to make me forget. So, I wouldn't help V.V. with his plans… right before I was sealed away."

Despite the enormous bomb that was dropped, this answered many of their questions, including why Rai had amnesia in the first place.

"How… how did you get out?" Fixit asked.

"Clovis found me." Rai answered, still in his emotional state. "He discovered the Thought Elevator a little bit after he began his experiments on C.C. and pulled me out of it. He then put me through the same kind of experiments. Then…. When Kallen and her team… stole the canister containing C.C…. I escaped during the confusion… found my way to Ashford and… you all know the rest."

Now they knew, they all finally had all the answers to the mystery surrounding Rai, where he came from, how he got Geass, all of it. But they also understood why Rai wished he never remembered. Who would want to remember a past as awful as that? Even Lelouch looked in utter sympathy at his half-brother, while his own childhood was surely a living hell, it was nothing compared to what Rai had to go through

Rai's entire body began to shake. "It's my fault…!" He placed his hands on his head, like he was about to pull out his hair, his eyes red and swollen with the tears of grief and rage. "I killed them…! I killed my own family! He'd be so proud of me! Dear old Daddy would be so proud! I can practically hear him and V.V. both laughing in my head, telling me I'm just as bad as they are! We're the same! And they're right! How can I be a Black Knight?! I can't be… I don't deserve to be… I'm a monster!"

His ranting was brought to a halt as Shirley pulled him into an embrace, wrapping her arms around him so tightly and refusing to let go. "Stop… Rai stop it right now." She told him as he was beyond surprised. "I won't let you say anything so horrible about yourself! You're not a monster!" She pulled away but kept a firm grip on his shoulders as she looked into his eyes. "You didn't want all that to happen, did you?" She asked as she looked like she was about to cry in pity for him. "It was V.V. who gave you that power, and it was that monster of an Emperor that ordered your home to be invaded! They did that to you; you didn't ask for it!"

"But I… I…"

"Rai, look at me." Shirley continued. "You are not a monster! You've saved so many people, including me! You made a mistake, but it's not like you wanted so many people to get hurt! I don't know how I can help you, but I want to! You're my one of my best friends and I care about you so much, and seeing you torture yourself like this only breaks my heart." She was already in tears herself. "It wasn't your fault."

"She's right." Bulkhead leaned down to be on equal level with him as Rai directed his attention to the green Autobot. "I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am that you went through all that, especially by yourself. But kid, you've done so much good when you came here, you even saved my skid-plate. Yeah, what you went through was horrible, but I don't care who you were before or what kind of mistakes you've made in the past, I know who you are, Rai. You're a good person, someone I can honestly say is my best bud alongside Wheeljack, a fellow Wrecker. No matter what happened back then, or what will happen in the future, I will always have your back. You're my friend and that is never going to change."

"Bulkhead… Shirley…" Rai didn't know what to say as he looked in between their smiling and supportive faces.

"I truly am sorry as well you had to endure all of that." Fixit said sincerely. "But I can promise you are not the only one. There are several other Autobots and Black Knights present who can understand where you're coming from, and I know we will all be here to support you, just as I am now, glitch or no."

Lelouch walked up to his half-brother next. "Rai… when I lost my mother… I only had Nunnally and I didn't open myself up to anyone for a long time, not until Suzaku helped me break through my shell, and even then, I still had trouble trusting others. That is, until I met the Autobots, and you, and everyone else. You all helped me to see things differently, you changed me. I truly am sorry for your loss, but you've gained some things to. You've gained plenty of loyal friends and… you also have a brother who wants to help you." Lelouch put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "You also have another sister. I'm sure Nunnally would be thrilled to know your part of her family. And I know she would want to help you to. I told her everything before I came here, and she still trusts me, she can do that for you to."

Rai almost couldn't believe it. He revealed his horrible past to everyone present, but they still offered their support, compassion, and friendships to him and said how they wanted to help him. He already knew what kind of people the Autobots and most of his fellow Black Knights were, so he wasn't too surprised to hear all this, but his heart still ached with this pain.

"Rai." Optimus was the one to deliver final remarks. "We can never truly replace what you've lost. But you have friends and a family that will support you even knowing your past. Your actions among us have proven that you are a noble and carrying human being, and that is the person we choose to know you as; not as Kaizaren Von Britannia, the son of Charles Zi Britannia; but as Rai of the Black Knights, a Wrecker, an ally to the Autobots…" The Autobot leader smiled. "…And a most trusted friend."

That was it, that was all Rai needed to hear as he broke down in a sob of both sadness and joy, happiness that despite his past being revealed, he still had friends and family who cared for him and wanted to help him. Shirley immediately pulled him into a hug as she cried to but also smiled, while he buried his face into her shoulder and continued to cry. Lelouch also smiled as he put a hand on his brother's back in support. Bulkhead stayed close as he smiled and nodded, along with Fixit and Optimus who also gave their own sympathetic, yet compassionate expressions to their friend and comrade.

Dreadwing's vehicle mode soared toward Cornelia's mobile base before it slowed its approach and descended toward the ground for a landing. Once it came to a stop, its cockpit opened up to allow Euphemia to step outside, right before Dreadwing transformed.

"Thank you Dreadwing." Euphemia said a she was about to walk toward the base.

"Princess Euphemia, does your sister know of your arrival?" Dreadwing ask.

"No, but this can't wait. I have to talk to her." Euphemia said seriously. "Did you hear anything from Suzaku?"

"Lord Megatron just released him." Dreadwing answered, much to Euphemia's surprise.

"Is he okay? What happened with Suzaku?" Euphemia asked almost urgently.

"I do not know the details, but Megatron has claimed that he still has Suzaku's allegiance." Dreadwing responded, causing Euphemia to wince. "And if I'm being honest, I have a rather bad feeling about it. I've tried to contact them before, only to be turned down. Something doesn't quite feel right."

Euphemia noticed how reluctant Dreadwing was with all of this. She had yet to tell him what she learned from Lelouch and Optimus on Kanime Island, but maybe she could soon, and they could have a potential ally. Like Suzaku, Euphemia knew Dreadwing was a good individual, and if he knew the truth, he would hopefully side with them, or at the very least, leave Megatron.

"I shouldn't be long, please wait out here for me." Euphemia said as she walked inside, while Dreadwing gave an affirmative nod.

Inside the mobile base, Cornelia spoke with Guilford and several of her officers when one soldier came in to address the princess.

"Viceroy, Princess Euphemia is here, and she wishes to have an audience with you."

Guilford and the officers were rather stunned by this, and while Cornelia was rather surprised, she also had something important going on here. "I don't have time for this."

"Make the time, Cornelia." Euphemia stated as she walked into the control room herself.

"Euphemia, I'm very busy right now. Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait." Cornelia said, keeping her eyes focused on what was in front of her.

"No, it can't!" Euphemia stated. "Cornelia, I know you never listen to me, but what I have to tell you could determine whether or not Britannia has a future! Maybe even the whole planet!"

Though Guilford and the officers were more than a little shocked by this, Cornelia turned around and saw the look in Euphemia's eyes. That look told the Viceroy that her younger sister wasn't going to leave until she had voiced her thoughts.

"Give us a moment." Cornelia told Guilford and the officers present.

"Yes, your highness." Guilford bowed as he and everyone else left the control room, leaving the two royal sisters alone.

"How did you even get all the way out here?" Cornelia asked Euphemia.

"Dreadwing flew me in." Euphie answered.

"I see." Cornelia responded before a concerning look formed on her face. "Schneizel told me what had happened on Kanime Island. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, and that's why I'm here." Euphemia began. "While I was stranded, I made contact with Optimus Prime and Zero." That got Cornelia's attention. "I learned some things while in their company…"

"Did you see Zero's face?" Cornelia sked immediately, while also interrupting her. "Did he take off his mask in front of you?"

"No, he didn't." Euphemia answered, much to Cornelia's disappointment. Though she did feel bad about lying like that, she didn't want to reveal Lelouch's secret till she knew he and Nunnally would be safe. "But that's not why I'm here. Cornelia, we have to end our alliance with the Decepticons."

Cornelia gave Euphemia her full undivided attention as the younger princess continued.

"Megatron has been lying to us." Euphemia explained. "The Autobots aren't war criminals, they're practically refugees! Cybertron wasn't destroyed because of the war, it was destroyed because Megatron poisoned it! He wanted to conquer and overthrow Cybertron's leadership for himself, but when he couldn't, he just settled with simply destroying the planet!"

"Do you have any proof of this?" Cornelia asked.

"I heard everything from Optimus Prime." Euphemia replied. "Cornelia, I know you've had your doubts about Megatron, just as I've had, but they're not unfounded. Megatron is a monster! We have to end our partnership with him, or else he may very well destroy Britannia, if not the entire Earth!"

"Euphie… I understand what you are saying." Cornelia responded. "I never trusted Megatron, even from the very beginning. Unfortunately, though, I don't have a say in the matter, you heard Father's orders. Besides, Britannia is already facing a grave adversary in the face of the Black Knights and the Autobots, starting another confrontation with a force even greater than that could lead the Empire to ruin. We can't fight two wars at once."

"We don't have to." Euphemia stated. "Let's offer a truce to the Autobots and Black Knights."

Cornelia looked to her sister in disbelief. "What?!"

"Even with the orders our father gave, you still have the power as Viceroy to make that call." Euphemia continued. "Offer a cease fire and a chance to negotiate with Zero and Optimus so we can find a way to work together and repel the Decepticons!"

"Negotiate with them?!" Cornelia voiced in outrage. "With the same alien that humiliated me multiple times?! With the same terrorist who murdered our own brother?!"

"Cornelia, did you even bother to investigate the circumstances surrounding Clovis? Why he did something so horrible?!" Euphemia questioned. "He massacred so many innocent people, and we're not even judging his actions?!"

"Those who died in Shinjuku were Elevens, Clovis a member of the Royal Family! Are you saying the lives of those we don't even know are worth even more than our own flesh and blood?!" Cornelia exclaimed.

"Elevens… that's how you see them, that's how everyone sees them." Euphemia spoke in a tone indicating she was disappointed. "And that is why the world hates us! Britannia is wrong, all this fighting is wrong, our father is wrong, we are wrong!"

Cornelia gave a slight scoff. "Oh, is that so? Well, maybe I was wrong then. Wrong to think to you would help to contribute to our nation, to see all this fighting through to the end."

"The end of what, Cornelia!? The world!?" Euphemia exclaimed. "Because that is exactly what's going to happen if we don't stop! When Optimus told me how the Decepticons destroyed Cybertron, I couldn't help but realize that Britannia is almost exactly the same! That's exactly what we're doing right now! We're destroying the world, Cornelia!"

"Britannia is trying to bring order to the world!" Cornelia argued. "You think we're the only ones fighting?! Look at the Chinese Federation or the E.U.! Look at all the countries and empires that have existed long before Britannia! Fighting has existed since the dawn of history!"

"That doesn't make it right!" Euphemia yelled. "Britannia has more scientific knowledge and power than most other countries! We could be using that to help people, but no, we're using it to kill! Have you seen the ghettos?! Have you seen the people who live there?! The destruction we leave in our wake… the lives we ruin… we're the problem Cornelia! Britannia can do so much good, but instead we're only hurting people! We're not bringing order; we're only making more chaos! The Black Knights and Autobots aren't the terrorists! We are!"

Cornelia looked as if her sister had just suddenly grown a second head. Her look of shock and disbelief turned into a glare. "How dare…"

"And it's not just with the rest of the world, it's with our own people to!" Euphemia continued. "Our own family! You say I don't care about Clovis!? Look at our father! He didn't even shed a single tear at his funeral, he didn't even pay him the proper respects! He just said our own brother's death was a 'steppingstone toward progress'! And it's not just him! Look at what happened to Lelouch and Nunnally! They didn't do anything wrong! All Lelouch wanted to know was why his own mother was murdered! And what did he get for that?! Exile! Our father exiled him just for wanting to seek justice for his own mother's death!"

Euphemia was almost on the verge of crying. "Are you saying… that they deserved to be sent away? Or worse, that our father practically ordered them to be killed when they invaded Japan?!" As Euphemia continued to rant, Cornelia's glare only hardened as her fists clenched. "We betrayed them, Cornelia! Our own brother and sister! They were thrown away and left for dead and we didn't lift a single finger to help them!" Tears were already flowing down her eyes. "I hate myself every day for that and knowing I can't do anything to change it! But you're a Viceroy! You have the power to make a change, but you won't! So many people are suffering, and you won't even bat them an eye! I don't blame the Black Knights or the Autobots one bit for waging war against us! You're just like him Cornelia! YOU'RE JUST LIKE OUR FATHER!"

*SMACK!*

Almost on instinct, Cornelia had swung the back of her fist to her sister's face and knocked her down onto the ground. However, once she realized what she did, Cornelia's look of anger turned into shock as she saw Euphemia look up toward her, tears mixed in with a look of betrayal and disbelief her eyes as she held her cheek where Cornelia struck her.

"Euphie… I… I didn't…"

However, Euphemia was already on her feet, her back turned toward her older sister. "I'm sorry, it was a mistake to come here." Euphie hid her tearful expression as she tried to speak professionally. "You don't have to worry Viceroy. I won't bother you ever again." She then proceeded to walk out, leaving Cornelia alone.

Once she was alone, Cornelia became filled with regret as she walked up to sit on her throne. There was a part of her that agreed with what her sister had said; like Euphemia, Cornelia hated herself for not protecting Lelouch and Nunnally, and she wished she was with Lelouch that day he confronted his father, even if she got exiled with them, she could have protected them herself. She stifled a sob as she pressed her hand against her face.

"Your highness?" She lowered her hand slightly to reveal Guilford had entered the room as he looked with concern. "Are you alright?"

"How much did you hear?" Cornelia asked bluntly.

"Quite a bit. It was rather loud." Guilford answered, causing Cornelia to sigh even deeper. "Your highness, permission to speak freely?"

"Granted."

"It's not my place to pass judgment based on your current actions, or what happened in the past with your family." Guilford began. "But I know you're not a bad person." Cornelia paid him a glance as he continued. "And if I'm being honest, I don't fully trust the Emperor either, especially with how complacent he seems to be regarding the action of the Decepticons, whom I have no trust for whatsoever. If something happened, and I was forced to choose between you or the Emperor, I would follow you without a moment's hesitation."

"I know you would." Cornelia replied honestly. "You've been nothing short of loyal to me, Guilford. And I truly appreciate that."

"Your highness!" An officer urgently ran inside.

"What now?" Cornelia asked with a groan, not in the mood for this.

"The enemy has destroyed the Great Kanmon Bridge in Kyushu Block!"

"What?!" Cornelia questioned as she and Guilford were both stunned by this report.

"They've also cut off vehicle access at four other points!" The officer continued. "And large numbers of assault landing craft are moving into the Genkai Sea!"

"The Chinese Federation?!" Guilford exclaimed in surprise.

"Have they made a deceleration of war?!" Cornelia questioned.

"No, Viceroy! The craft are baring the flag of Japan!"

Done.

So, quite a bit has happened.

We now have all the details of Rai's backstory, and to say he is shaken up by it is an understatement. It's going to take a bit of time for him to recover from all of this, but he still has the support of his friends and recently acquired family who will help him every step of the way. So that's good.

Lelouch has also finally revealed everything to Nunnally, and she's taken it surprisingly well (we also have Sayoko in the Black Knights to now). He will introduce her to Optimus soon, but he's already introduced her to Bumblebee, and they appear to be getting along quite well.

Lelouch has also begun taking precautions with his Geass to see that it doesn't become a runaway.

However, Megatron has now become aware that Suzaku killed his own father and is now blackmailing him into his service with the information regarding Lelouch and Nunnally (which he already knew from the beginning, but we all know how cunning he is). And it seems that Suzaku is slowly beginning to realize that he made the wrong choice in siding with the Decepticons. And while Megatron has acknowledge the possibility of Suzaku defecting to the heroes, he has no issue with it. Megatron has shown that he is willing to sacrifice even his most valued soldiers to further his own agenda. Two primary examples include him killing Dreadwing to spare Starscream in the cannon TFP series, and even willingly sacrificed Trypticon to become the Nemesis, even though he could potentially be repaired. So even if Suzaku does side with the heroes, Megatron will simply view it as a small price to pay, especially since he has added the Insecticons to his army (including Hardshell, in his TFP appearance) and has learned about Ragnarök as well.

Also, Soundwave has found a way to keep Airachnid from turning the Insecticons on them, and while she is eager to strike out on her own again, she's going to play it safe for the time being and remain with Megatron for the remainder of the R1, and even a bit into my iteration of R2.

Finally, Euphie tried to convince Cornelia to offer a truce to the Autobots and Black Knights, but she of course declined, which led to quite the escalation between them. It's sort of why I titled this episode with the word "Paradox", to further illustrate the opposing relations between the two sides; the Autobots and Black Knights are only growing closer together, while rifts among Britannia and the Decepticons are only growing deeper, even among their own sides.

Now the Chinese Federation has stepped in. What's in store next for our heroes? Find out next time on Code Prime.