"When manipulating someone is done perfectly, that person won't ever know they have been manipulated at all."

Alexander Andreas Gustavus Di Britannia.

….

"Lelouch, what are you doing, no sleeping!" He was shook awake by the loud voice of Milly shouting right beside his ear, shaking his head he stretched briefly. The student council around him was just shaking their heads, they had become used to him dozing off the past few months, so were not to surprised when he dozed off. "We have to divide the budget before classes start or else we have to deal with the clubs busting down the door."

"It's not my fault our budget seems to disappear every few weeks..." he muttered as Milly smirked in a mildly disturbing manner, tucking a stray strand of blond her behind her ear.

"Oh Lulu, you know a girl needs her parties, there is so little entertainment around, I need to create some on occasion." She smirked as she sat herself down beside him, toying with her hair as she smiled, he chose not to press her on it any further.

"I suppose we could reallocate some of the science clubs funding to the equestrian club, they have been getting more then they need for a while now."

….

"We have to act now Lord Jeremiah, Prince Alexanders transport is only a few hours away." He frowned, unsure about what Kewell was suggesting, there was not much they could do with their current circumstances. "I might have a plan as well?"

"And what would that be Kewell, with the prince breathing down out necks there isn't much we can do."

"We need to pin the blame for the Viceroys death on someone, lest it be put on us instead." They couldn't blame the terrorists because that would likely reflect as a failure on their part, that left very few people to blame the strange events that resulted in the viceroys death on. "There is one person we could blame this on, Suzaku Kururugi."

"The son of the last prime minister of Area 11?"

"Yes he was present on the battlefield and we could easily 'create' some circumstances and motivations for him to have committed the deed."

"It could be possible, at the very least it we will have something to hand over to the prince when he arrives."

….

"I know we don't have much information on Naoto, Kallen, but you will have to go back to school to keep up appearances." Hearing Ohgi repeating those words for the fifth time made her roll her eyes in annoyance, it was true but that did not make her school uniform any less demeaning, or the diminutive attitude she had to take any less frustrating.

"I know Ohgi, I am just frustrated that he hasn't contacted us, we don't even know if he is alive at this point." She grunted toward the phone as she removed her hairband, combing her red locks out of their normal long spikes and into a more 'Proper' hairstyle. "You better have him call me as soon as you speak to him, I will keep my phone on vibrate for it."

"Will do, Kallen, call me if you need anything."

Snapping her phone closed with one hand she stood and finished getting ready for the day, attaching her knife pouch to its cord attached to her vest, hiding her old German pistol in her backpack underneath her lunchbox where it was unlikely to be found.

….

My personal transport had been modified greatly over the past years, to the point where the low orbit transport now looked more like a luxury liner then a military transport on the inside at least. Large leather chairs that are insanely comfortable, tv screens that are almost theatre grade and a fully stocked bar, but none of that made the trip to Japan comfortable. So much was about to happen and I could only speculate about how much of an effect I would have, how much Amon would allow me to change the events of the anime and how much I should change.

"Your upset about Clovis's death I assume?"

"Partially yes, he was my brother despite all the conflict between us, but it's mainly that I have no idea what to do from here."

"Not able to rely on your foresight anymore?" The question that came so close to the truth it made me chuckle, I might have already told him if not for the fact that I was sure Amon would not like me doing that.

"Not quite, but I am unsure about the next steps, it all comes down to a few important things, things that are not entirely in my control, you know how nervous that makes me."

The two of us were silent for a moment as the Transport slowly tapped the ground of the airfield, slightly rustling them in their seats. Getting up they exited the Valkyrie to see the welcoming committee, Margrave Jeramiah, Villetta Nu and Kewell Soresi, something tells me that I am not going to like what they have to say.

…..

He saw the girl at School during his morning chemistry classes, her hair had changed as had her demeanour, wearing the school uniform she was nearly unrecognizable. He tried to keep his looks subtle but Rivalz managed to catch on quickly, the boy telling him all he knew about her, Kallen Stadfeldt, heir to the family and one of the riches girls at Ashford. Lelouch found himself unsure about her motivations, with little way of finding out about them beyond using his Geass, but he did not want to use it without having a good conversation with the green haired girl, or C.C as she insisted on being called.

He could reach out to his limited contacts but was unsure about how much they would be able to dig up, and he trusted none of them enough to allow them to investigate someone at Ashford, lest they discover him and Nunally. That left one option, an option that grated on his every nerve, the Illusive bastard had information on damn near anyone and was not afraid to advertise that fact. And it was too much of a risk to let her simply walk around and risk her matching his voice to the one who helped her and her terrorist friends.

….

"The only reason I have not executed all of you yet is because it would reflect badly my Brothers memory." The first words out of the mouth of the Field-Marshal and Prince did not imbue him with any confidence in the plan Kewell had suggested and he had implemented. "Your plan involving Kururugi is a mess that I will have to clean up, expect to take full blame for everything if it goes wrong, with executions to follow, the only reason I am not stopping it outright is that it might lure out the real killer."

He attempted to speak up, to explain himself but the lion of a man held up his hand, a sign to the man's reputation that it silenced all talk across the airfield. The Prince pulled the half cape around his shoulders tight, his scarred face coming into a frown as he stared into Jeramiah's eyes in silence.

"Do not explain yourself, you failed, it is as simple as that, your capture of General Bradley only compounds the issue as he was retrieved by the OSI before I could have a much needed chat with him." The gilded lion paused for a moment, eyes lighting with rage. "And you disobeyed my direct orders to report any military activity Clovis ordered directly to me. Know, Jeramiah Gottwald, that the only reason your brain is currently un ventilated is because I need to fix your fuckups first."

…..

"So, you wanted to know about Kozuki?" the man asked as he puffed from his cigar, "Listen carefully, I am only going to say this once, I am in a rather bad mood today and don't feel like talking so just listen."

"Alright then, enlighten me."

"The one you want to know about is Kallen Kozuki-Statfeld, bastard born girl to her father, the Duke Stadfelt, and a maid, along with her brother she was secretly legitimized, her brother Naoto rejected that and remained a number. Kallen was forced to accept it by her father, as he needed an heir, the only reason she hasn't been married off is because she fakes a severe case of chronic fatigue, recently she has joined her brother in his terrorist efforts." A long drag of his cigar before he continued.

"In truth the girl is a bit naïve of the world, but she hates Britannia with a passion and is fairly intelligent, her greatest asset by far is her skill with Knightmares, scoring a stunning 99.6 percent in pilot aptitude."

That was incredibly high, in the top 10 of Britannia in fact, at least as far as he was aware, with only three people in the empire better than her, matching Alexander's score who would win based on experience, then his Mother and Bismarck Waldstein with 100, so the girl would be an asset.

"Yes, you understand how useful she could be, I know you do, if you want to recruit her you will have to take her brothers cell in as well, and I have some intel that would help with that as well."

"For a price of course."

"As always." The man pushed a button on his chair allowing another screen to pop up, what was on it shocked him, Suzaku in chains. "It has not been broadcasted yet, but it will be tonight, I need you to liberate him, that is my price."

"Deal."

"I knew it would be." The man smirked in that insufferable manner. "Now as to the information, her brother was captured and is currently in custody of the Britannian military, I am sure that can be used to your advantage, good luck."

When the line had dropped Lelouch found himself frowning, considering his options, he could approach her directly, but that would be needlessly risky, a simple text message would be enough to draw her attention as well, limiting contact, but he would need a way to keep her close to monitor her, she was going to be an important piece going forwards.

…..

"So why did you want to talk to me." Kallen asked, doing her best to maintain the bored emotionless tone she used at school towards the strangely familiar Vice-president of the student council.

"Nothing untoward I assure you, I merely have been asked to speak to you by someone who has a vested interest in your activities yesterday."

Her eyes widened at the implication briefly, before narrowing, her hand clutching her knife purse and ready to lash out if needed. What did this Britannian boy know about what had happened yesterday, what did he have to do with it all.

"Please, try to limit your aggression until I have said what I have to. The club house for the student council is unfortunately occupied so I need to find a silent place where we can speak unmonitored."

Nodding at him she followed pulling her backpack off and grasping her Luger as they walked, the security the old gun brought her was a comfort. The boy led her through the labyrinthian hallways of the academies basement, their footsteps echoing in a manner that made her nervous, until he stopped and turned to her.

"Thank you for bearing with me, I have some important information to share."

"Information from who?"

"The Illusive man." Her eyes widened, that was a name everyone in the Japanese underground knew, the man had come into the scene a few years ago, taking control over nearly all of the informant and hacking portions of it in a matter of weeks. The Illusive man had informants everywhere and shared information when it benefited his mysterious cause, he was the one who had alerted Naoto to the chemical weapon facility a few weeks ago. "I see you understand, good, it saves me the explanation."

"So your one of his informants?"

"I prefer ally, you might know I have something of a reputation as a gambler, I play with a lot of nobles and share some of the things I hear with him in exchange for protection and such" The boy, Lelouch she recalled, shook his head for a moment before locking eyes with her. "But that is not important now, my employer has forged a blood pact with a new figure on the board, he wishes you and your cell to meet with this new ally. In exchange he offers information and additional aid, of course there will be more things required."

"What would be then?" She was curious and nervous about the whole thing, it all seemed a bit strange.

"First of all you will have to join the student council at Ashford."

"The Illusive man wants to keep an eye on me using you then?"

"Exactly, do not worry, I do not tell him more than necessary and if you ask me not tell him something I will always consider."

"Alright I agree to that, what is the information."

"It concerns your brother."

Her heartrate spiked at those words, she knew instantly that something had happened, worry overtaking her before she focused.

"He has been captured, he is alive but in a Britannian military prison." Her shook his head as her mind reeled with plans to liberate him, if he was in a military prison it was likely Akibahara, a raid on it would be impossible but infiltration should work to get her inside... "No not in Japan, he has been moved to Taiwan, to Pride Rock."

Fuck, the Duke of Asia's fortress palace, she hoped he was alright, while the Lion was not known for abusing prisoners her brother would likely be locked up for a very long time.

"The Illusive man has ways of ensuring his escape, given time, but..."

"But only if I and the others prove useful right?" her voice was maybe a bit too firm and filled with anger, but at least it made her stance on it clear. "I am fine with working with this 'Ally' of his, but I need to know who I will be working with."

"Then come to maglev station tomorrow after school."

"What will I call him?"

"Zero."

…..

"I have been in this area for 3 hours and my headache is already worse then you could ever imagine Nelly." I rubbed my forehead as I sat in the office, having had every bit of needless, tasteless decoration stripped from it, going over the reports about the skirmish in the ghetto and Clovis administration in general. "I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but Clovis was worse at being a Viceroy then I thought."

"He can't have been that bad Andre."

"He broke his encirclement to run headfirst into the same trap he had fallen for twice before." Her look of disappointment was similar to my own, Lelouch was a good commander sure, excellent at battlefield manipulation and able to get the fullest out of his resources, but Clovis had him outnumbered 3 to 1 if not more so and was still unable to beat him. "And that was not even the worst thing he did, Nelly, I think I am going to go insane if I have to fix this mess myself, and there isn't even something I can destroy to relieve some stress."

"I will depart from the front in two days Andre, try to keep it together, I know you are not the best at dealing with emotions and such things but try to rest."

"I will do my best dear sister, I will do my best."

…..

"So what is this CODE-R thing Brother?" Marius lit another Cigar as he sat with his prince as the two of them poured over the documents the man in question had pulled up. From what he could tell something shady was going on with Clovis finances, but then again he was not the best at paperwork, or electronics, or planning... maybe he was not the leader type but that was always Andre's thing anyway.

"Something very shady, and something I want, Clovis was involved with something horrific, Human experimentation, and I feel it is my duty to not let something that people died for go to waste."

"In other words we are going to put a stop to it and take what's left for ourselves?" Andre chuckled, leaning back in his chair and Marius was once again struck by how much the prince resembled his father in the man's prime, tall and broadly muscled with shiny blond hair and purple eyes. Luckily his prince did not resemble the emperor in demeanour, or else he would have never met him, despite it all he found himself once again wondering at the strangeness of his rising to his position.

Him, the son of an immigrant and a lower noble sworn to the greatest military mind of the generation, treated as the mans honoured brother by bond, it was such a strange series of events that led to it all, yet it seemed right.

"That is what it comes down to yes, it is likely all medical research, which we will sell in portions, but there are some things about neural networking and artificial organs that interest me greatly."

…

"Good to see you are still here." He said to the girl as she lazed on his bed, her green hair spilled behind her like a curtain, now clean and brushed, her straight jacket replaced with a bathrobe. "I think it is time we had a conversation."

"We don't have much to talk about boy."

"Oh we do, I need to know about the power you gave me, this Geass."

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I can't grant you your wish, whatever it is, if I don't know how to use my power, its limitations and history."

She looked at him with eyes wide for a few moment, he could swear he saw some emotion go through those cold amber-yellow eyes of her.

"Alright then, il tell you all you want to know."

"How did Geass come into being?"

She remained silent for a moment, staring at him in what he assumed to be minor annoyance.

"Fine then, the first code was granted some five thousand years ago in Egypt to a young assassin-"

…..

"Powers, super powers if you will, it's a subject that has always been controversial, how can we truly call ourselves human if we are not all equal, if someone has powers that others don't how can they be human? Want to know the answer? If someone has powers and others don't, that someone is a god, and gods? Gods are the shepherds of Mankind."

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.