2017 C.E, September 12th (Mirror-verse)

IJMS Taiyo

05:03 PM

"So this is the assets we've found at Shikine island after that light show a few hours ago." Captain Nii Akiro of the Imperial Japanese Maritime Defense Force muttered to a Britannian exchange officer serving as his XO aboard the IJMS Taiyo. "I was expecting something more… Alien or magical to be honest…"

The two men were on the deck of the Hyuga-class Helicopter Carrier, observing the incoming helicopters flying toward them carrying their package. The ship arrived at the island an hour ago being the nearest ship that could quickly respond to the unusual event and tasked with some heavy lifting duty. The large amphibious assault ship was near the coast of Shikine island, sticking out like a black sheep among the flotilla of small ferries and trawlers docked or floating near the island's port. Sailors, tourists, and the islanders were watching with awe and curiosity at the large vessel floating near the relatively quiet island.

"It's still something straight out of a sci-fi story, sir." Commander Riley Harold Jr pointed to the overall situation of why they're bringing their cargo. "Weird anomaly happens at some random location and we find something revolutionary… Though I did not expect us to find three mecha of unknown construction and origin, along with four individuals who wouldn't be out of place in a anime." He observed with fascination at what the helicopters were bringing in.

"I can say this commander, the engineers are going to have a fun time cracking them open." Captain Nii remarked. "That is if the mechs aren't just for a show and deliver us something."

The three H-60 helicopters arrived at their mothership, immediately lowering down the three slinged mechs to the flight deck below. Sailors and engineers were watching in awe at the special cargo they were going to ferry back to Japan, while the signal officers below were signaling the chopper pilots to carefully lower their cargo. There was a medical helicopter flying nearby but rather than landing on the helicopter carrier, it was heading towards the mainland. Having the higher priority of needing to deliver four unconsciousness patients to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the three mechs dropped on the flight deck were obviously different in design, shape, and colors. The commonality they shared was a hunch-backed block backpack from their back. The first one was colored primarily in white and gold, resembling that of a gallant knight with the large sword it was carrying. The second mech was colored in red and orange, appearing that of a demonic creature with its sorta hunched-back design and large silver claws it had as its right arm. The third mech was less exceptional in appearance aside from its samurai-like helm, looking conventional and colored in black.

While mechs themselves weren't unheard of in the modern world with several models of robotic suits and large exo-skeletons used by civilians. These ones – he noted had large wheels at their feet – seemed to be designed for direct combat roles. Which as far as he knew, the military didn't field any as they were impractical for combat. There was an attempt by Ashford Robotics and Energy Solutions to design a one for direct combat engagements besides engineering but that ended going nowhere. All of the attempted models have shown poor mobility and endurance only made them a walking target practice for tanks and heavy weapons. But looking at these ones and their wheel attachments, he had a feeling there was something special about them.

The series of events that led to the present moment transpired when an unnatural storm appeared over Shikine island over a few hours ago. A storm like nothing ever recorded or witnessed in the history of Japan. Smartphone video recordings posted on various social media websites showed purple lighting and furious winds engulfing the formerly quiet island. The appearance of the storm and its unnatural appearance had everyone at Shikine village immediately take shelter from the strange weather phenomenon that appeared out of the blue. Many were frightened at the unusual natural event when there were no reports of incoming storms, with some thinking the end of the world was upon them.

The storm went on for half an hour as it grew intensely in both power and aura to a degree that everyone felt they were at the center of a category 5 hurricane or an erupting volcano. Yet after the 30 minute mark the storm slowly died out as the sky returned back to its original blue state, along with the winds reverting to its calming state. It was as if the storm never happened in the first place on the island. Nevertheless, the village was glad the storm had passed away without inflicting too much damage to the relief of many. The only damage the village has suffered from the storm was unsecured objects falling to the ground or blown away by the winds, and purple lighting causing some electrical outages in several buildings. Other than that, the damage wasn't too severe and repairs expected to be quick.

All the while a group of friends headed towards an empty section of the beach far from the village. The young tourists were originally eager to continue their vacation that was briefly interrupted by the storm. Yet rather than arriving at an empty beach all to themselves, the beach-goers accidentally stumbled upon the discovery of their lifetime. One that would have profound change on the globe as they encountered on the beach three unknown mechs of differing designs that wouldn't be out of place in an anime, along with four unconsciousness individuals lying on the sand: one that was dressed like a masked superhero with the purple cape and mask; a pink-haired girl in a fancy white dress; a spikey, red-haired girl in a red and grey jumpsuit; and a brown-haired teenager dressed in a white, fancy jumpsuit.

"What the heck is going on?" Cornelia Liaford muttered to herself as the long purple haired woman ran over to the unconsciousness four as did the others. She flipped over the one nearest to her, a pink-haired girl dressed in a fancy pink dress. Gilbert and Nonette looking over to the other three lying on the ground. Whilst her friends Cody, Jamel, and Osyka were calling the emergency number or running back to the village to get some help.

Looking at the pink-haired girl lying on the sand, Cornelia Liaford couldn't help but feel a small sense of attachment to the teenage girl; a protective feeling somewhat forming up in her heart. A feeling that puzzled her as to why she felt this way considering she just met this girl.

She outside the feeling to the back of her mind, focusing on making sure the girl was okay. The Youtuber/Let's Player already saw the girl was breathing and pulse stable after putting her index finger on the pink girl's neck.

"Gilbert, you need help over there?" Cornelia shouted over to her boyfriend, who was busy trying to see if the masked man looking straight out of the comic books was alright.

"Having trouble getting the mask off." Gilbert D. Guliford replied as the software developer tried to find a way to safely remove the mask from the man.

"The other two are fine here." Nonette Hodges called out. "Let's get them somewhere safe for now. Cody, Jamel, get your butts over here now!" She shouted to her friends standing not too far away taking photos of the three mysterious mechs.

"Haha! Finally got it!" Gilbert exclaimed in victory as he managed to find a switch on the mask that recessed the rear segmented sections, allowing him to have easier time taking off the superhero-like individual's mask. Revealing a young, unconscious raven-haired teenage boy's face – whose general feature somewhat looked familiar. The dark-haired man with glasses noticed that the four individuals appeared young enough to be in high school.

"Soooo, anyone got a clue where the heck these four and those fancy mech things came from?" Jamel asked out loud, observing the red mech with the wicked clawed arm.

"The storm perhaps?" Cody suggested. "I mean they weren't there before the weird storm popped up out of nowhere… So the storm could've brought four teens you might see in some anime and three mini-mobile suits. Like one of those portal fantasy stuff or whatever space-time nonsense or Isekai crap?"

His friends pondered upon that theory, as he was correct that their discovery was absent when they were playing at this section of the beach over a few hours ago. Only forced to go back to the village for shelter when the unnatural storm appeared, and later returning when the storm passed to stumble upon their unexpected discovery.

"At CNN, we bring you thi -."

"Tonight's story on JNS -."

"Unusual storm over Shikine island that has left meteorologists speechless an-."

"Satellites detected unusual energy at this quiet island near Tokyo bay wher-."

"Photos circulating through the internet of what appears to be three mechs of unknown origin-."

"-he exact location where the-"

Eleven individuals sat around a half-oval table inside a dimly lit chamber, mixing between ancient and modern designs, giving it a mysterious aura to the chamber and to its occupants. The unknown cabal were watching the various news feeds, reports, images, etc shown on the massive screen in front of them regarding the phenomenon at Shikine island. All eyes were closely upon the footage of the unnatural storm with purple lightning thundering and the rough photographs of the three unknown mechs and the four blurry figures lying on the sands.

"Quite the beehive we have on our laps." A slavic man commented. "Don't know where to even start off with this event."

"Understatement of the millennium since we can't cover up or erase that one. So far over half the world has seen the videos and pictures already." A young Polynesian man muttered.

"Agreed, this is going to pose difficulties. Any words on the four VIPs?" A young Britannian man asked his colleague and friends.

"At the nearest hospital in Tokyo. We have the hospital under tight security, no one goes in or out without our permission. Along with any information regarding the guests." A Chinese girl spoke. "Mainly to keep the crowd out and making sure the VIP don't try to escape. Also, we're dispatching some of our associates to the hospital for eyes on the ground and gathering information."

"What about the discount mobile suits?" A Britannian woman asked.

"Currently under tight lockdown at the National University of Tokyo." A Indian woman answered.

"Speaking of which, any idea what happened at Shikine?" A Prussian girl questioned.

"No idea despite my connection over there. Only thing I have is the biggest headache of my life." The Japanese man groaned. "But I did feel an odd activity, as if the Thought Elevator was responding to something odd… A connection that was briefly formed before it was snapped."

"Well none of us touched or messed with the Thought Elevator so it's not us." A French man spoke.

"Laurent, any idea on this?" A Iranian man asked the African elder sitting in the center.

The African was silent for a moment as he closed his eyes in quiet reflection before speaking again. "This is a first for me, my friends… For now let us inform our associates on what we know so far, along with waiting for our guest to wake up…

2017 C.E, September 13th (Mirror-verse)

National University of Tokyo Hospital

09:45 AM

Kallen Kozuki groaned as she slowly opened her blue eyes to the world, blinking several times to adjust to the sudden morning light splashing on her face and removing the tiredness with her face.

'Ugh, what happened? My head feels like I just got hit by a Gloucester lance… All I remember is me trying to save Zero and some light engulfing me… But where am I? Am I back at the submarine?' Kallen thought to herself as she glanced around the room.

"Looks like I'm in a hospital…" The red-head muttered briefly, relaxing for a moment as she tried to bring her right arm to rub her face. Only to hear the sound of metal clanking and finally feeling cold metal on her wrist, signalling her wrist was handcuffed to the hospital bed.

Her eyes widened in realization as she went from tired girl to soldier mode instantly while adrenaline pumped into her. Her head snapped around in different directions as her mind was now fully awake and aware of her new, unknown surroundings. A surrounding that could be a hostile location as the Black Knight submarine's medical ward wasn't as large or sophisticated. That left her with the grim conclusion that she was likely in Britannian hands as their prisoner.

More importantly she needed to know what happened to Zero after he was taken hostage by Suzaku. He could be dead or in the same situation as her as a prisoner of Britannia. She needed to escape right now to find Zero and contact the Black Knights!

She then heard a groan to her left and was surprised to see Suzaku Kururugi and the pink princess lying on their own hospital beds, slowly waking up from their deep sleep.

Their presence here left Kallen puzzled as to why they were held in the same room as her, and dressed in the same white hospital gown. Euphemia was royalty and Suzaku her Knight of Honor. They should logically be at a much more secure and fancier place than being in the same room with a 'terrorist'.

Additionally, she heard another groan coming from her right and turned her head to see Zero's mask on a small table next to the bed he was on. And before she could cry out to Zero in relief and concern, she found herself frozen in shock when she saw the face of Lelouch Lamperouge instead. Her mind quickly put together the connection between the mask and her fellow classmate lying on the bed, yet her mind was fully unable to comprehend that Lelouch was Zero…

Then the door leading to the room suddenly opened up, grabbing her attention and her body on full alert for a possible way out. Rather than a squad of Britannian soldiers marching to detain her for interrogation, Kallen Kozuki was greeted with the sound of two Japanese men conversing in their native tongue, one dressed as a doctor while another in a black suit wearing a glass. She heard them talking about the conditions of the four patients they have in hand and the strict security imposed on the hospital. The one in the suit saying it was necessary security due to the crowd outside and some classified matters. And right after that both men turned their heads to their front and saw her looking at them with a surprised and confused facial expression. Kallen was expecting Britannian soldiers to march in to arrest her for interrogation or execution.

Then again something was odd with her being stuck in the same room as the Princess and Suzaku, along with Ze- Lelouch… Speaking of which, the first two individuals were now slowly waking up as they rose from their bed. While Lelouch was now starting to open his eyes.

"They're awake." The Japanese doctor then took out his smartphone to call in a medical team, while the suited man talked through his ear piece of the new development.

All the while Kallen and the newly awakened Euphemia and Suzaku looked on in confusion to what was happening and thinking where they were now more than ever.