A/N: I do not own Code Geass. If I did, R3 would have dropped by now.

A/N 2: Wow, this chapter was quick to write. Who knew that the morning commute on the train was such a good place to write?

A/N 3: Thanks to everyone who wrote a review. I understand that some of you feel like this story is following some formula, that it's becoming predictable. Well, here's the good news: Last week, I took some time and created an outline for this story. Now I know exactly (or at the very least, have a very good sense of) where this story is going. With that, I can say that I have a few surprises and original ideas in store for the future. (At least I think that they are original. On this website, you can never tell if someone hasn't already come up with an idea before you). I'm also nixing my "3000 words a chapter" rule. Now, each chapter will hold a certain events that I have decided beforehand, so we can move the story along quicker be more interesting (I hope).

Alright, enough of my BS. On Dancer! On Blitzen! On with the story!

Chapter 5: To Risk the Earth

To risk the Earth, dare to explore its forbidden or misunderstood impulses. Establish in doing our own dwelling place. The history of all peoples is the ultimate point of our imaginative unconscious. – Edouard Glissant

He who has the luck to be born as a character can laugh even at death. He cannot die. – Luigi Priandello

"Well, let no one say that things stay stale around you."

These were C. C's first words to Lelouch as he walked into the clubhouse. She and Nunnally were sitting around the table, watching a news bulletin about the Saitama attack. As was expected, C.C was already halfway through yet another pizza. Lelouch turned his attention to the news that was playing. Like most Britannian news reports, the presentation was overly positive and tended to downplay any suffering on the part of Elevens. Special emphasis was placed on the death of Zero, the masked terrorist who had killed late Clovis. Lelouch could only smile at the comment. "What can I say, people like a show."

"Was this what you did this last time?" C.C asked, as she finished one slice and began another.

"No. Last time, I fell into the trap despite my best efforts. Thankfully, you decided to dress yourself up as Zero, which provided me enough time to escape."

"Hm." C.C watched as the news moved to on the upcoming Sakuradite conference, and left once she had finished the pie. With the immortal witch out of the room, Nunnally turned toward her brother. "Why did you tell her that you had travelled back in time?"

"I didn't. She figured that out on her own, since I wasn't surprised to see her alive."

"Huh." Nunnally mulled over that information for a minute. "That woman eats way too much pizza" she said, shifting the conversation.

"You have no idea" Lelouch responded. "Back when I was emperor, I got my hands on the Pizza Hut's archives. Apparently, she had ordered so much pizza that they had created a file dedicated solely to her."

"That's funny" Nunnally said with a chuckle. But Lelouch could hear a strain behind that chuckle, and knew that something was bothering her. "Nunnally, is something wrong?"

Nunnally sighed, and then looked at Lelouch with eyes of apprehension. "Big Brother, who killed our mother?"

"Why do you think that I- "

"I was listening in on your conversation with Cornelia. I know that you wouldn't have tease that sort of information unless you actually had the answer. So, who killed Mom?"

Now it was Lelouch's turn to sigh. He then looked his sister in the eye and said "It was V.V."

"Huh" said Nunnally as she mulled over this new piece of information. Lelouch had told her about V.V when she had asked why Lelouch would trust C.C after turning her over to the Emperor. According to her big brother, V. V was in charge of the Empire's Geass users, as well as the Emperor's brother. V.V also had powers similar to C.C, which is why she thought C.C had kidnapped her. Now, he was also apparently responsible for their mother's death. "What was his reason?" she continued.

"He was getting jealous of the relationship between our parents."

"And you found this out – "

"A Knight of the Round told me, and the Emperor later confirmed it. Does that answer all of your questions about our mother's death?"

Nunnally frowned. She had a suspicion that Lelouch wasn't be completely honest with that last answer. But she also knew that he had his reasons for withholding that information, the primary one being to protect her. When it came to anything related to her, Nunnally realized that her brother was surprisingly easy to read. He would prioritize her safety above anything, and he admitted that she was his own weak point. Which was why she could let that answer slid, for the moment at least. "For now. Do you think that Cornelia will find us, now that she knows we're alive?"

"I doubt it. Our covers have held for the past seven years, I don't see them failing now. In any case, Cornelia will have bigger things to worry about soon enough. Speaking of, have you set up the private channel yet?"

Nunnally smiled at the question. Listening in on the Viceroy's conversations had been useful, but they still didn't have a proper means to communicate between themselves and their soon-to-be allies. But that wouldn't be the case for too much longer. "It should be done the day before Milly and everyone leaves."

"Really? That's fast, all things considering."

"Have a little more faith in big brother. Besides, I had a little help." Nunnally's smile began to falter as she thought about that. She had managed to enlist Nina's expertise in the matter, and the bespectacled girl had been most helpful, but some of the questions had dangerously close to exposing its true purpose. It taken some quick thinking on Nunnally's part and a distraction in form of Milly trying to give Suzaku a pedicure to prevent Nina from pressing too far. Before too long, I should ask Big Brother for a lesson on how to manipulate people she thought. Even without his Geass, Lelouch was a master of reading people and getting them to do things for him. It would be a really useful skill to have in the future. Bringing herself back to the conversation at hand, she said "The channel's not flawless. It will stay private through the Lake Kawaguchi incident, but I can't say how much longer it's privacy will last."

"That's okay, we can strengthen the signal later. I only have one more question: Nunnally, are you ready?"

Nunnally flashed her brother a big grin full of confidence and excitement. "Are you kidding? I can't wait for my first mission as a Black Knight!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Clovis la Britannia left behind a troubled legacy. His supporters would claim that he had established a strong economic presence following the annexation of Area 11. His detractors would claim that his government was filled with corrupt nobles and incompetent yes-men, which failed to curb rampant crime, drug use, and terrorism. But one thing that everyone could agree on was that Prince Clovis had been passionate about the arts. As Viceroy, he had undertaken several public art programs, and taken steps to promote art throughout the various schools in Area 11. And Clovis had been an avid collector himself. While his collection was nowhere near the grandiosity that defined that of his sister Guinevere, it was still impressive in its own right, filled with priceless works of great renown.

It was one such piece, a Ming vase, that flew past Guilford's head and smashed against the wall.

"What do you mean you've got no clue?" Cornelia yelled at her two knights.

"Well your highness, the two have been in hiding for seven years" Guilford said. "Their covers have had to been good enough to last that long, it makes sense that we can't find them just yet."

"Besides" her other knight Dalton said, "We just killed the only lead we have, any information that he had must have died with him."

"I don't care" Cornelia said with her head down in frustration, the determination still gleaming in her eyes. "I don't care if we don't sleep for the next three weeks. I don't care if we spend every pound that's left in our treasury. I don't care if we tear apart every single mountain on this godforsaken island. I WANT THEM FOUND!"

"Nelly? What's wrong? What happened?"

Cornelia looked up to see her younger sister in the door, her face full of worry and caution. She had seen the look Euphie before; it was the expression she wore when she approached a very angry dog. Her younger sister was also calling her by her childhood name, which she only did if either of them where seemed like they needed to be comforted. Cornelia then caught a glimpse of herself in a nearby mirror. The Second Princess had her hair disheveled, her uniform not nearly as neat as it usually was, and surrounded by debris that was clearly the result of her rage. Maybe Euphie's behavior isn't unwarranted in this situation she thought. "Euphie, what are you doing still up?' Cornelia asked, feebly attempting to avoid the matter at hand. "Don't you have to get up early tomorrow?"

"I was doing paperwork. Your paperwork, as it happens. But never mind that, what happened at Saitama? Why are you so upset?"

"Oh, don't worry about it's nothing."

Euphemia gave her sister a look of annoyance. "Right, you just decided to celebrate your victory today by subjugating your office to an impromptu redecoration job."

Cornelia sighed. There's no keeping this from her, I guess she thought. "Leave the room" Cornelia ordered. "I want a word with my sister. Alone."

As her knights bowed and exited, Cornelia motioned at one of the few chairs that hadn't been overturned. Euphemia took a seat and looked at her sister. "Alright, so what has gotten into you sis?"

"It's something Zero said before he died. I had him cornered, and he tried to barter his way out with information about Lelouch and Nunnally."

"Really? What did he say?"

"He claimed that they are alive, and that they've been living in hiding."

"I knew it!" Euphie shouted, jumping out of her chair with youthful excitement. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew!"

"Calm down Euphie" her sister said wearily. "At this point, this is only a rumor from an unverified source. And Zero suggested some …unsettling thoughts to go with this news."

"What do you mean?" Euphemia asked, her eyes filled with curiosity, anxiety, and anticipation.

"He said that Lelouch and Nunnally didn't want to be found. And he suggested that … Lelouch may be close to solving his mother's murder."

"Did he say anything about who killed the Empress?"

"Only that the killer was a member of the Imperial Court, someone who was close of the Emperor."

Euphemia's eyes grew wide. "But…but that would mean that the Emperor would have had a hand in covering up Marianne's murder?"

"I know that's hard to believe, but it fits. I was the head of Marianne's guard; she had sent us away for the night. You were too young to remember, but the late Empress didn't trust many people in the court. That means she trusted whoever that she met that night. Plus, the emperor himself ceased all investigation into Marianne's death. That makes no sense by itself, but it would if the killer was someone close to him. And there is one other thing…."

Cornelia got up from her seat and started to look through the papers that had been scattered on the ground thanks to an overturned desk. She found the piece of paper that she was looking for and handed it to Euphemia. "What's this?" she asked.

"This was something that I uncovered when I was going through Clovis' personal investigation into the matter, it's something that he uncovered" Cornelia said. "It's an OSI report on Kururugi shrine, the home of the former Prime Minister and where Lelouch and Nunnally were staying."

Euphemia nodded, knowing what Cornelia had meant, but not said: This was where Lelouch and Nunnally were supposed to have died, killed in a bombing meant for the Prime Minister. "This shows that OSI had been tracking the Prime minister for two weeks" Cornelia continued "and they knew that he hadn't been at the shrine for five days."

Euphemia's eyes widened at the implications. "I see why they don't want to be found" she said.

"I agree" Cornelia said. "We need to find them as soon as possible. That's why I was so angry just now. The longer Lelouch and Nunnally are not in our protection, the more exposed they are."

"True," said Euphemia "but we need to proceed cautiously as well. If we're not careful, we could lead the ones responsible straight to them."

Cornelia facepalmed herself. "Of course. I can't believe that I didn't realize that earlier. I must be more tired than I thought"

She suddenly felt herself in a hug. "It's ok." Euphie said consolingly. "We will find them. And we will be a happy family again."

Cornelia returned the hug, all the while thinking I will find Lelouch and Nunnally. Then I will destroy the bastard who was foolish enough to tear apart our family!

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Kallen, are you sure you should be here today? You don't look too good."

"I'm fine Milly!" Kallen snapped "I just need some fresh air, give me a minute!" And with that, Kallen rushed out of the Student Council clubhouse. Once she was off to the side, she started trying to catch her breath. This is all my fault she thought. It's the damn Butterfly Effect, isn't it? What was it something I did that led to Lelouch dying...again? Was it something I ate? Should I have eaten the ham sandwich instead of the turkey? No, it can't be that, this is too substantial. Did I do something differently during one of the missions? Oh please tell me it wasn't that I got Mom off of Refrain! I-

"Kallen, are you okay?" asked Lelouch

"Lelouch! Oh thank god" Kallen said as she ran into Lelouch and embraced him. She quickly let go as she realized her mistake, her face the color of her hair. "Sorry about that, it's just that I thought…you had been hurt the other day."

"That…that's okay" responded Lelouch, his face a similar shade of red. "Why did that warrant a hug?"

"Because you are important to…t-to the Council! We would never get the budget balanced without you!"

"T-thank you. You're important as well…as-as a member of the council as well."

They both stood around awkwardly, each unsure what to say to the other out of fear that they would give away themselves away, unaware that the other already knew. "So," Kallen said, trying to turn the conversation in a different direction "what are you plans for the weekend? Are you going with Milly to Lake Kawaguchi?"

"No, I got something planned with Nunnally. She's enjoying having her eyesight back, so I'm treating her to a show. How about you?"

"No, I have something planned with my boyfriend."

"WHAT?"

"Oh, we recently met" Kallen explained hurriedly, attempting to cover her Freudian slip. "But he really gets me, you know? He has a tendency to be dramatic, but he can inspire you like no other. And he has a sensitive side that you just can't help but fall for."

"That's sounds r-r-really lovely" Lelouch stuttered out, too stunned by surprise and jealously to realize that Kallen was talking about him. Before they could take the conversation any further, Milly suddenly appeared. "Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine" Kallen responded. "We were just about to get back to work, weren't we Lelouch?"

"Yes, we were, Madam President" concurred Lelouch.

As they entered the clubhouse, both of the time travelers thought over the other's statements, and concluded that they had been lying. What both failed to realize was that, in their own way, they both had been telling the truth.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

"All right, what is the plan?"

Ohgi was looking towards his leader. Earlier, they had gotten the call from him and received an address for their meeting place. Surprisingly, they had found the supposedly dead Zero alive and well. When asked about his "death", he had laughed. "Come now" Zero had said, "Surely you don't believe everything you hear in the news".

"The plan is very simple" Zero was saying now, bringing Ohgi out of his memories and back to the moment. "I will requisition a news truck and convince Cornelia to let me into the hotel. Meanwhile, all teams will make their way into the service entrance, from there you will receive further instructions from K-2."

Ohgi nodded. Upon inspection of their new hideout, they had seen on the TV that a rouge faction of the Japanese Liberation Front had taken over the Lake Kawaguchi hotel. Zero, upon seeing this, had declared that they were going to rescue the hostages. The entire crew was down for it, but no one knew exactly how it was going to go down. All they knew was that they were going to be doing were going to do it as "knights of justice", which entailed a new uniform for everyone.

After that, they split up; Zero went to find a new van, and everyone else made their way to the service entrance. As they arrived, Ohgi spoke into the radio. "All teams have reached the service. Requesting further instructions from K-2."

"This is K-2" said a voice over the radio. Ohgi felt his eyes slightly widen. The voice that was coming over the radio seemed quite young, and the accent suggested that it may not be wholly Japanese. Despite this, Ohgi managed to accept it. After all, our ace is a half-Britannian high schooler he thought. But still, others had a harder time.

"What the hell?" Tamaki said, being his usual rebellious self. "Why is a child relaying instructions through my ear?"

"If you have a problem with me" said the voice exasperatedly, "then feel free to take it up with Zero after all of this is over. In the meantime, here are your instructions. Teams 1 and 2, you will head to the sublevel basement with the duffel bags. Teams 3 and 4, you will go to the ballroom and secure the hostages. Team 5, you will move to the lobby area and await for the TV van to arrive."

With that, the teams split up and went to their respective places. As Ohgi was with the first team, he went down into the basement level. Once in the basement, the two teams were sent in different directions. Once they were at one set of foundations, K-2 directed Ohgi's team to place a number of bombs that had been in the duffel bags on the surrounding walls and arm them. Once that task had been completed, K-2 had directed them to a yacht that belonged to the hotel. Upon arrival, they were told to prepare the yacht. All the while, there heard status updates from the rest of the teams. As they sat on the yacht, waiting for the other teams, Ohgi found that he had to calm a sense of restlessness that was nagging him. I did my part, all I can do now is hope that the others have done the same he told himself in order to calm his anxiety.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Zero had to admit, there was a certain poeticness to the whole situation. The first time he saw Euphie was the same as the last: the two of them surrounded by victims by the bloodied victims of his Geass. Okay that may not have been totally accurate, he thought, but it was still really good to see her again. He could even feel a tear or two welling up in his eye. Euphemia clearly didn't harbor similar feelings. Instead, she approached him with a sense of wariness and apprehension. "So, Zero" she said began conversationally, "it appears you've come back from the dead."

He had to laugh at that. "It wouldn't be the first time. But now, my resurrections are probably what you are least interested in. Go on, ask your questions; I'll answer while there is still time."

Euphie sighed. She had so many questions, she didn't know where to start. She decided to start with the most immediate. "What happened to Lt. Kusakabe and his men?"

"They just killed themselves, realizing the pointlessness of their attack" Lelouch lied smoothly "Next question?"

"Why did you kill my brother Clovis? Was it vengeance?"

"No. I killed Clovis because of a side project of his; something known by the name of 'Code-R'. I urge you take a look at it; it's quite shocking."

"And what of my siblings Lelouch and Nunnally? Is it true that they live?"

Lelouch felt himself choke up a little. "It is true."

"Really?" Euphemia asked him, her eyes overbright. "Where are they? How can I talk to them again?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible" Lelouch said with a heavy heart. "They are currently safe, and they'll stay that way as long as they are hidden. Still, if you insist on persisting, this may be of some use." With that, he took out a black envelope and slid across the table. Euphie picked it up, but before she could do anything, a ping came on Zero's phone. "What is it?" Euphie asked.

"I've just been informed that the Viceroy is about to send the Lancelot into the tunnel attack the Raiko cannon. This could upset the foundation of the building, so we need to get moving. Quick! Head to the marina next to the lobby!"

Euphemia, surprised by this turn of events, nodded in obedience and moved out of the room. Zero took a second to look out into the cloudless night, at the star-laced sky. I don't know who or what gave me this second chance, but I intend to make the most of it. This time, nothing will stop me; not Cornelia, not the Emperor, not Geass, not even fate itself. I will destroy this corrupt world again, and I will make it anew in the peaceful image that my sister envisioned!

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The first thing that was heard was an explosion in the tunnel. Soon afterwards, a white Knightmare jumped from the tunnel. Then another series of explosions occurred and the hotel collapsed from the ground. Then a white ship sailed through the wreckage, surrounded by what appeared to be its life boats. A spotlight turned and revealed Zero, the man that the world had believed dead for the past week; or at least until he had appeared at the hotel, claiming he could go in and rescue the hostages. Behind him stood several men and women, each clad in a uniform of silver and black, complete with a black mask.

Hear us Britannians! We are the Black Knights! the masked man said. Fear not, for I have rescued the hostages!

And indeed, as the life boats came into the view of the cameras, they would zoom in to see that hostages were indeed alive and safe, if a little shaken.

The divine justice that I have bestowed upon Lt. Kusakabe and his men is a demonstration of our goals. It is to help those who are powerless to throw off the yoke of their oppressors. To that end we will stop at nothing. We challenge empires; we will defy gods; we will risk the Earth itself. Fear us or rally behind us, do as you see fit! For we will stand in judgement of the world, we will be a true force of justice!

And justice never dies.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kallen had do everything in her power to maintain her disciplined appearance. She couldn't help but feel completely fired up and flushed with power following that speech. This was what she was made for, this was her purpose. Now, she was officially a Black Knight again. Now, she could do anything.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nunnally could feel herself grinning at Lelouch's speech. This was a side of her brother that she hadn't been able to appreciate too much in the other timeline. This was not Lelouch the gentle caretaker, Lelouch the aloof student, or Lelouch the cruel emperor. Here was her Lelouch the revolutionary, who would take on take on Empires and win. Here was the version of her brother who would change the world. With this speech, Nunnally felt that the perfect world that they both desired was in reach; all they had to do was grab it.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Geass Master was very pleased with how Lelouch was doing with his second chance. Truly, the boy was an endless source of entertainment. He could see into Lelouch's mind, and saw that this is where he intended to stop following the script of fate. Here is where he would really start to change things. The Geass Master smiled. Not even the gods couldn't see where this was going to go, but boy is it going to be a ride finding out.

a/n: And that's where I'll leave it. Hopefully, this a bit less formulaic that the other chapters. If you don't feel that way, then I hope you stick around for when I start instituting some of my more original ideas.

a/n 2: Seriously though, when the balls is R3 dropping?

Comments? Questions? Insidious Remarks? Leave a review!

Till the next chapter! -TWA