Deithard was known to be a professional. When given a story, he researched everything to the smallest of details. His journalistic instincts finely tuned to a degree that most other journalists were envious of. He was quite well known for his work early one with Hi-TV, revealing several scandals from minor nobles, and even a collaboration with the multiple cartels in Area 2. This lead to a quick rise and eventual promotion to producer, though there's where it stops.

Since his promotion, and subsequent relocation to the newly christened Area 11 four years ago, it had become stagnant. Always having to curtail his works to 'Show more patriotism' had taken its toll. Personally, he didn't give a damn when it came to Numbers or the Area system. He had meet plenty of good people among the numbers, though they always had a share of the bad in equal servings.

In fact, he had recently begun to find his own countrymen lacking in comparison. While the masses who watched his programming where mere sheep, the wolves hide among the higher nobility, and while yes, some of the lower classes were more capable than the others, it was an insignificant margin that was sweep under the metaphorical rug of Social Darwinism. A Commoner would never rise to the heights of a Noble, with a few exceptions of course.

Recently he had begun to write a story, and so far it has only left him in a mix of complete shock and awe. Zero. A mysterious man with a flair of the dramatic. While filming him, thereby offering Zero free publicity, Deithard became instantly enamored. He couldn't keep his mind away from The Regicide for a moment. 'Where had he come from?' 'What are his goals?' 'Is the world merely a stage for him to preform?' 'Where had you learned the tactical skills to best Cornelia?' These are the questions that kept the journalists awake at night.

While Deithard had begun to come up with answers of his own as to who wore the mask, he had little faith in the majority of them. However, he did believe in several things about Zero. First, he is not a number. This seemed obvious to Deithard, as Zero had a naming sense and style familiar to royalty from either Europe or Britannia. Second, Zero is no older than thirty. While yes a skilled orator, how frequently he raids either the Britannian's or the various cartels is too frequent for someone riddled with the various afflictions that come with age. While the Japanese Liberation Front do have semi frequent raids, they aren't lead by their leader personally.

Third was that Zero has done something like this before. How precise his attacks, his own leadership capabilities, his ability to disappear or reappear at a moments notice. These are not the workings of an amateur, Zero is a professional when it comes to rebelling.

Deithard couldn't help but smirk, satisfied at his own musings. Of course these were all carefully concealed and hidden. He wouldn't want anyone else to memorialize his Magnum Opus before he could.

A small ring from his computer pulled the producer from his thoughts, drawing his attention to his personal inbox. His eyebrow rose as there was nothing in the subject or body of the email, despite it being sent by his boss. 'Weird, why would he send me something like this?' He noticed then a small attachment, which he debated clicking for a few moments. Hesitantly, he began to active the several security protocols within his computer. Once he was certain no one besides himself could be watching, he clicked the attachment.

What he found was shocking, even slightly alarming. Attached was a document with a time and location, the insignia of the black knights at the top being the only indication who it's from. Deithard sat back in his chair, causing it to creak slightly, 'I had only sent my application the other day, why had he accepted it so readily?' After a minute, he shook his head, most of his ideas to why he'd been accepted so quickly were not pleasant, much less tasteful.

Quietly, he begun to pack up. He had to be punctual, even if it was all a trap he couldn't risk not showing up and it being something important. His smirk followed him out and into his car, 'As they say no risk, no reward.'

Suzaku made his way through the school grounds, his gym uniform tucked underneath one arm. While yes, Lelouch had stepped up immediately to defend Suzaku, it hadn't protected him entirely from the discrimination. Today's mild annoyance included his uniform being hidden and soaked in some water mixed with sulfur, the result being his normally white uniform was a solid pink. He sighed as he opened the door to the private wing Lelouch and Nunnally stayed in.

He was only moderately surprised when Nunnally had opened her eyes for him. Lelouch doted heavily on the fragile girl as she was constantly on his mind the months before the Requiem and it appears to still be at the forefront. While she still had that aura of confidence she had slowly built up as Empress, she seemed significantly more relaxed than when she took the throne.

Smiling warmly, he set the clothes in the laundry room with a small note for Sayako. Once that was accomplished he set off to the Student Council office to begin the arduous task of the welcoming party for Arthur, a small black cat he had found in Shinjuku, since he was the one to bring him.

Upon entering the club room, Suzaku only noticed Kallen was there. Quietly, he took his seat across from where Lelouch usually sits, putting his diagonal from Kallen by a seat. The two worked in silence as Suzaku planned the budget out, resorting to a calculator once the math got a bit harder. A quick glance had revealed she was working on a lab from the other day that she 'missed'.

Quickly he stole another glance at Kallen, he hadn't yet asked Lelouch who was awoken. He knew of four including himself, and didn't know the exactly limits to this new Geass. 'Could it be possible to restore Euphie's memories?' He winced as he quickly shoved that thought away. Euphemia would be devastated if she remembered even the smallest bit of her role in the S.A.Z. Massacre. He frowned down at the paper as the memory of the atrocities committed surfaced briefly. While he no longer bared a grudge against Lelouch for the order, he did hold the whole event in contempt. It was a soft spot for him for quiet a few years.

As he began to wrap up the total for costumes Suzaku glanced at Kallen again, his eyes widened slightly as she was looking directly back at him.

"Fawning over someone else's girlfriend? Didn't take you for the type." Kallen spoke softly, though there was a hint of mischief in her voice.

Suzaku shook his head, shrugging slightly, "Just wondering what your thoughts are on Zero, everyone seems to be praising him as a hero since he saved the hostages."

Kallen sighed slightly as she eyed Suzaku. Putting down her pencil, speaking calmly, "While his actions might be sometimes distasteful, he is quite the charmer when you warm up to him, right Suzaku?"

Suzaku's expression remained unchanged except for his eyes narrowing slightly, "I agree, however I believe he might be a bit pigheaded sometimes."

The redhead giggled softly, her hand covering her mouth, "Reminds me of a prince we know."

Suzaku raised an eyebrow, "Have the exterminators been to Ashford recently?"

Kallen nodded lightly, her hand returning to her lap, "But I heard the walls have ears in places like this."

Suzaku chuckled heartily before returning to his work, "Say, how have things been going between you and Lelouch? I heard you announced you two were engaged in front of the entire class."

Kallen frowned slightly, "He was worried about you finding out."

The pilot merely chuckled again, "I am just happy he found some happiness besides Nunnally in this world. He has been quite dense when it came to others." At the last words he shot the opposing ace a knowing smile.

Kallen blushed lightly at this, "I'm just happy to see him again," a smile crept up again, "I was happy for a chance to be here for him, truly."

Suzaku nodded, while he had acted quite harshly at the end of his friends reign, his anger had subsided. It was quite humbling when you run your best friend through with his own sword. Suzaku beat off those dark thoughts again, settling his face into a smile, "I am as well, despite our own hardship, how we had hurt one another. I had loved him," Kallen shot him a small glare, "Not in the way you do, more like a brother. A close family member."

Kallen let out a small content sigh, "And it'd better stay that way."

Suzaku's eyebrow rose, "Possessive now, are we?" The statement made the red head's cheek redden again, causing the honorary Britannia to chuckle once more, "Not that I'm much better, seeing Euphemia again has been an emotional roller coaster."

Now it was Kallens turn to raise an eyebrow, she had been told the true story by Suzaku soon after they had meet at Lelouch's grave, "And how is she?"

Suzaku shrugged, "Honestly, the same as ever, she is still caring too much about others for her own good.'

"That's good to hear, I'm happy for you Suzaku." Kallen spoke with a slight giggle. They had both been through a lot, and such they had slowly become friends, cherishing each others stories of Lelouch.

The brown haired boy smiled at his 'enemy', "Thank you, Kallen."

The door opening drew both of their attention as a certain noirette entered the room, currently immersed in a carefully hidden black knight report.

Suzaku shot Lelouch a small smirk, once the former Prince took his seat, "I appreciate the concern you showed the other day. Told me a bit about your plans."

This caused Lelouch to look up from his reports frowning, "I had factored you into my plans for that day, you being held back until the end didnt help in the slightest as I had to use route C."

This caused the Honorary Britannian's eyebrow to raise, "Did it mess up that much? I can understand where your coming from, though next time I'd appreciate a bit more input, if I'm to be your sword whilst Euphie's shield, I'll need some details."

Lelouch's eyebrow took its turn as it rose, "Very well, I will make sure you have as much notice as possible for operations." Suzaku smiled at that, satisfied to even get a warning now, " Our next operation is Narita, I have personal assets there, and I'd rather make sure they remain undetected."

Suzaku nodded, getting up with the papers he had, "Well, I'd better get going, Lloyd will need me back at base soon for a couple of tests. Have fun lovebirds." Suzaku teases as he left the two of them alone.

Lelouch smiled softly as he glanced to Kallen, her face red again causing the exile to chuckle mirthful.

The redhead shot her prince a quick glare, though the effect was lost due to her own smile, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, my dear Kallen," Lelouch teased, "I'm just enjoying spending time with you is all."

Kallen's smile grew as she focused on the work before her. She knew all the answers for the entire semester, though she wanted to seem like she was doing something incase anyone else happened to be here. After a few questions, she slowly slide her hand under the table, her fingers entwined with her partner's. She could feel her face heating up as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Kallen slowly looked over to Lelouch, the latter still looking down at the report, leaning his free hand against his chin. Biting her lip, she slowly leaned over setting her head against his shoulder.

Jeremiah sat with his legs crossed as he looked over the data. He had been covertly visiting the Code-R research base that had made his augmentations. While the scientist had been reluctant, he had simple threatened to release it all public. They have sung like canaries ever since.

"What of project B17-3.4, the one with the optical Geass jammer?" Jeremiah inquired.

"We expect to be testing soon, maybe with a few weeks time," The one who spoke was a short scientist with a impressive mustache, though his chest probably had more hair than the top of his head, "As for B17-3.5 thought 4.0 wont be ready without specifications on the subject and some tuning. We have lost several good test subjects to insanity or heart failure when the implants were rejected."

Jeremiah noted this. During his time spent with the Geass Directorate, he had acquired as much information as possible. While yes he had suffered partial brain damage due to lack of oxygen last time, it only affected his speech. Now however, he had planned to slip while on Cornelia's operations in Narita to undergo the procedure.

"Enter in my specification into all active projects," this caused a gasp from all the scientists in the room, causing Orange to smirk, "Prepare a scribe as well, I have a few ideas that would increase the success rate and stability of Project B17."

Jeremiah smirked smugly at the expressions of the people before him. Yes, His Majesty had many capable people, able to do a myriad of things, Jeremiah was special due to a near perfect memory. This was enhanced once he became a cyborg. After the perfection of his form, only himself had fit with his role as a perfect servant to his Liege. Kururugi had been exceptional in the ways of combat and honor, though he lacked in the ability to be flexible in certain situations. He completed his final task honorably.

He sighed as he set down the paperwork in his hand, instead moving to leave the room with a frown settled in. That day, while joyous as it freed His Majesty from his curse, had been one Jeremiah held close to his heart. While he had succeeded with his portion of the plan, he still felt he could have served His Majesty better, perhaps more faithfully.

His brow furrowed slightly as sunlight danced over his orange eyes, 'And no one is more faithful or loyal than Jeremiah Gottwald.'

Deithard arrived at the old schoolhouse in the Shinjuku Ghetto. Inside were several figures, the most notable one being a taller Japanese man with brown curly hair and a red headband. While he was dressed in normal clothes, he had still be issuing orders to several newer recruits as Deithard approached them.

"Well, what do we have here?" The blonde stated, coming to a stop just beside Ohgi.

The resistance leader looked over to the reporter and frowned, "Our leader told us to treat you well, don't make the mistake of betraying our trust."

Deithard raised an eyebrow. For Zero to let him in this far without so much as a blindfold was ludicrous. Or Deithard wasn't going to leave this place to be able to say anything. After a moments contemplation, Deithard spoke up again, "I will keep it in mind," his voice clear and unwavering, "Now, I assume you know why I'm here?"

The man nodded and began to walk further into the building, Deithard in tow behind him.

Zero sat in his chair, tapping his finger slowly. The blonde man across from him could barely control his excitement. He was sitting in front of Zero. The Zero.

"Sir, it truly is an hon-"

"I don't bode well with flattery, Mister Reid." The interviewer stated. They were seated in metal chairs across from each other in a dimly lit room. A small wooden table the only thing separating the two. Outside of their cone of light, Deithard couldn't make out anything. Not like there was anything more dangerous than the man before him.

Deithard gulped slightly, quickly coughing as if to clear his throat, 'I cannot blow this...'

"My apologies, Zero. It's just that your easily the most wanted man in Britannia, possibly the world. I understand now that you would prefer things at face value," Deithard left a silence for Zero to speak, but upon the man not so much as moving, he continued, "I want in."

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't, the only real question I have is why? Your a Britannian, you have doors open to you some people could only dream of. Why throw it all away for a rebellion?"

Deithard took a deep breath, "I'm here for you," At this Zero tilted his head, "To capture your essence. To immortalize your name in time. To be there as history is being made, to record it from a first person perspective."

Zero recrossed his legs, "Do you know why I rebel, Deithard?" This cause the blonde to shake his head, "Quite simple really, I intend to destroy Britannia."

Deithard sucked in a deep breath as Zero continued, "Britannia is a nation where the strong rule the weak, A nation where you must turn on each other like rabid dogs just to flounder for titles. These nobles sit upon their decadent thrones, feasting in the misery and corruption of a dying nation with no foreseeable end. They heard the masses like cattle as they drive their armies to the will and agenda of an Emperor who hasn't given a damn about his people in decades." Zero paused, letting his words settle with the reporter before continuing.

"To be born dumb, or ugly, or physically weak. To be born sick, or feeble. These are people who have only seen cruelty since their conception. They are tossed aside like rags, their worth insignificant to those that'd use them to garner favor. It's repulsive." With this word Zero leaned forward, his voice soft through the scrambler, "I say unto you, Deithard Reid, can I trust you, not only with my life, but with the lives of those trampled underfoot by those with this so called strength? Or will you turn to use me for your own ends as well?"

Deithard's face remained composed as he thought, but internally he was overwhelmed, Zero's passion, his depth, it was inspiring. He felt as if he had dangled his feet off the edge of a large void. And the void left him star struck.

Slowly and with a sly smile, he responded confidently, "Yes, Zero."

Zero leaned back, "Good. Until further notice, you shall be under supervision by Commander Ohgi, his word is my word. If he task you with something, I expect you to fulfill it."

Deithard nodded as he took in the orders. Being underneath someone wouldn't be a problem, He didn't really care as long as he was there for the thick of it.

Suddenly, a hand on his shoulder pulled the Britannian from his thoughts, his face turning to face the owner. His jaw dropping slightly.

Currently he was face to face with the snarling visage of what the public has been calling "Red Wolf". As he regained his composure, he noticed a handgun in her opposite hand. Noticing the direction of his gaze, she spoke, "I trust you will heed Zero's word carefully, yes?" Her voice was as metallic and lifeless as Zero's, though Deithard still took notice of the underlying threat. The blonde nodded, causing her to remove her hand and stepping away slightly. Seizing the opportunity, Deithard made his way out of the room.