"Peaceful moments are few, far between, and in my experience, often interrupted, treasure them friends, treasure them both in the moment and after."

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.

…

"Is it finally time to install the Pegasus package Sire, I have been waiting for so long!?" Harris was frantic as I entered the Perseus hanger, the man chopping at the bits to finally instal the masterwork that was the Pegasus upgrade package, unfortunately I was here to deliver some bad news.

"Unfortunately not Harris, it was originally the plan yes, but it seems fate decided to intervene, Prime Minister Schneizel is soon to be on his way towards the area."

"Which means you want the Perseus on standby in case of an attack..." The way the scientist deflated was honestly pitiful, hmm, maybe I should throw him a bone.

"However, I want you on standby, if you see any chance after his arrival I want the Perseus upgrades ASAP, I feel like Schneizel is going to show off, and I want to win the dick measuring contest that is to come from that."

"I will make sure you will win Sire, I guaranty it!"

Bless you and your inability to understand jokes Harris.

…

The morning sun hit his eyes, slowly waking him up from his rest, he felt the weight of her body on him, a comfort that made him greatly consider sleeping in further, her green mop of hair covered his eyes as he opened them. C.C was entangled with his limbs, somehow comfortable despite her catlike sleeping position of having her knees on the pillow besides them with her head on his chest.

"It's early Lulu, go back to sleep."

Ah, she was awake too.

"It's already ten C.C, I have to get up."

She made a small growling noise, but released him, quickly bundling back up into the blanket when he had gotten up. He smiled as he put his clothes on, it was Saturday morning now, and he had some things to do, some favours to call in. Today was going to be a good day.

…

"Zero, I have a quick update."

"Go ahead." His stroll past the many shops of the fashion district was undisturbed until his phone had vibrated, picking up to hear Naoto was no big surprise, the man had taken up a lot of responsibility among the Black-knights after his release.

"Rakshata finished that thing you wanted, she was pretty vague on the details, but wanted me to tell you ASAP."

"Good, tell her to have it ready for the Guren, install it after our next battle, Kallen is our best pilot and will get the most benefit out of it."

"Alright, will do, good luck Zero."

Good, that was something he had been wanting for a while, most things we wanted took a while to make happen, then again he had never expected anything else when he started to move against the empire. For now he should focus on his current task, meeting with one of the leaders of another rebel cell was always a dangerous thing, more so when the rebels were not Japanese. Time to meet with this so called Peace-Mark.

…..

"So, Shirley, you like this Rai do you?" The man in front of her asked, making her eyes widen in surprise, the can of food she was inspecting falling from her grip. "Don't be scared Shirley, I won't tell, that is, if you help me."

"How di-"

"I am tired of this song and dance, it's always the same, how do you know, who are you, what do you want! It's always the same! How about we skip past that and get to you helping me?"

"Wha-"

"Oh I know! How about I start with a threat, that always seems to work! So Shirley, if you don't help me get to the student council club house I am going to kill you!" the white haired man turned to her, pointing a pistol at her, Shirley found herself desperately looking around, finding the eyes of a nearby soldier, who avoided eye contact with her. "Come now Shirley, he won't help you, nobody here will! They all have too much to lose."

"What do you want from me?!" She screamed, the people surrounding her seemingly either not caring or scared of the man, ignored her, while a large man held her in place by the shoulder.

"Well I already told you that haven't I? I want you to take me to the student council clubhouse."

…..

"So Suzaku, you and the Princess?" Kallen asked, the two of them the only ones in the meeting room of the clubhouse, with Lelouch out for business, Rai on the Ikaruga, Shirley out to refill the pantry, Rivalz at his bartending job, Nunnally at a sleepover, Sayoko with Lelouch as security and Milly out on a date with Marius Ernst. It was rather strange in her opinion, Suzaku was on the other side, fighting against them directly, jet he was still almost friendly with her, then again, Andre was the same. "Weird to see a Japanese dating brit Royalty."

"I could say the same about you and the Prince." The boy responded with a small smile and a blush, he was really into the Princess after all, not that she could blame him.

"Yeah, but I think Andre doesn't really know how to make a move on me..."

"Well you can be rather intimidating."

"Hah, fair point, but Andre, unlike Euphemia, is really socially awkward, I think the rolls are a bit reversed between us." It was true, Kallen and Euphemia were more similar then she was honestly willing to admit, both took what they wanted and did not care what anybody else thought, even if she took things on with a lot more violence. "You know one of the first things he said to me after seeing me for the first time?"

"What was it?"

"Well, after his eyes adjusted to the light of the cave you put the both of us in..." At least Suzaku looked a bit guilty at that, "He stood there for a moment, and then he said 'Holy mother of god you are hot!' first thing out of his mouth!"

Suzaku sent her an unbelieving look, and she nearly burst out laughing at the way his mouth opened and closed like a particularly active carp.

…..

"So Marius, how have you been?" He tore his eyes from the glory of the horizon to turn them back upon the shining form of his date, Milly Ashford wore a white sundress that while not provocative in any way, made it very hard to keep his eyes of her.

"Quite well Milly, if a bit busy, it is very nice to be with you again." And the words were true, while he was often distracted with her looks she was by far one of the most pleasant and nicest people he knew. "And truly a pleasure to be on this date with you."

"It's the same for me Marius, everything has been so hectic lately, I have hardly had any free time." She pulled his arm and locked it with her own, leading him down one of the parks many winding paths, the trees and flowers around them filled with butterflies. "But this has already been the most fun I could have had."

"I feel the same way."

…..

"Come on little brother, its family day, no phones no work other than emergencies!" I quickly clicked my phone shut, damn, caught again, I love you Euphie but I have a lot to work on. "Now, it's your turn to pick a game."

"Well my pick is obvious..." My words got an eyeroll and smile from Nelly and Euphie, I always picked the same game, but I could not help the fact that I enjoyed it so much.

"Il pull up the Kriegspiel board, its your turn to be Umpire Nelly."

….

The memories and thoughts of all these students burned in his head as he and his hostage walked the halls of the school, her thoughts were a jumbled mess, painful to read but easy to manipulate, he could hear the worries of the rest of his little army too, as they set up his trap for his rival. Soon, soon he would be back with her, and could take her to a safe place away from all of these insane people.

"Come on now Shirley, no thinking of tricking me, just hurry and get me to the Student Council club house." The girls panic focused her again, and she slowly stopped her attempt at turning left, to take him to the right, adorable, when people thought they could outsmart him. As if anyone could beat him when he knew there very thoughts and even memories.

"Ah, I sense you already my love, that glorious void that draws in my power, that lets me relax..." the bliss of even being this close brought a smile to his face. "Soon."

…

"So, how about it 'Last Samurai', want to spar."

"Who are you exactly?" Rai sputtered at the reply from the Colonel, unsure of how to respond to that question, before a small smile lit on the face of the man in question. "A bad joke, my apologies, I would not mind a fresh opponent, not many of you Black-Knights practise with blades."

"Great! I have only had Shinobi to spar with before now, and she is not exactly a fair fighter."

"Shinobi never are."

….

"Glad we are in agreement then, I must be leaving now, there is much to do."

"We understand Zero, and it is good to have a working relation with you, Peace-mark will be ready for our alliance to come into effect."

Lelouch smirked as the line was hung up, glad to have gotten the work of the day done with, and with enough time to relax at home left too, C.C had been a lot more affectionate these past few days, a change that was both strange and welcome. She was with him as much as she could excuse, always near enough to touch, always sharing stories from her past, and strangest of all, sharing her pizza with him.

He left the backroom of the convenience store with a smile still upon his face, despite everything that had been going on, despite his rebellion and the deaths it put on his conscious, he felt better than he had ever before. He slowly made his way back to Sayoko, who was waiting for him in his car, Nunnally being over at a trusted friend's house, which left just him and C.C once Sayoko departed to run her nightly security rounds.

His phone rang, and he answered after checking who it was from, C.C, strange, she never called.

"Hello."

"Lelouch, we have a problem, get back here quick, don't call in the Knights, be ready for a fig-" the line cut off...

"Sayoko! Hurry us back to the academy, emergency code Alpha-Star!"

…..

"So, you are an interesting case Red, what a messed up head you have! Truly interesting, normally I might spend a few hours breaking that attitude of yours, but today I am feeling generous, point me to Lelouch room and you can go free!"

The lunatic in front of her was tall, ridiculously so, almost as tall as Andr-

"Oh comparing me with your little boyfriend, how kind!"

And apparently reading her mind, time for counter measures... baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do!

"Stop that you vile woman! Its infuriating!"

baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do! baby shark do do do do do!

"Why are all your thoughts in comic sans! Ah fine! Il just leave you here, no appreciation for my brilliance, I swear."

He swung his pistol at her, and she felt and heard a dull thunk on her head before passing out.

…

"The phone lines and power for the academy has been cut master, should I retrieve the Shinobi for armoured extraction?" It would work, except that the school being cut off was likely to draw the attention of the Britannian's too, and the Shinobi being found there would mean all blame being pinned on them.

"No, it will draw too much attention, I can't risk moving so boldly, not even with Shinobi's new stealth system, I will go in myself, you will enter via route Secta-Julius-Eight, get as many people to safety as possible while I assess the situation, stay tuned in to my body cam and sound recorder, and respond as planned."

"Understood Master, please stay safe."

He was not sure he could grant her that request, it was clear he was walking into a trap, one that he could not avoid nor turnaround from the outside, there was only one thing to do now, go in and break it from the inside out. So he stepped forward towards the student council clubhouse, taking note of everything he saw with extreme care, from the men on the roof carrying assault rifles, to the students that stayed on campus Saturdays being pushed into classrooms.

They were wearing Black-knight uniforms... someone had been planning this for a long time, avoiding both the eyes of his own knights and those of the Lion, a memory floated to the surface of his mind, one of C.C stories, one of her latest contractors, the one before him, one that terrified him with its insanity and power, one named Mao.

"Nothing is ever simple, I suppose you were right about that one Alexander..."

….

"Sir!" The soldier burst through the doors of my quarters, something that would never happen unless one of my special orders were to be triggered, I looked up from our family day game to him. "Something is wrong Sir, we lost contact with Facility Zeta! A dozen other locations in the area report attacks too!"

"What." The amount of people who knew the location of that place could be counted on two hands with three fingers cut off, something was wrong, because none of those people would betray me, even under the influence of a command Geass because none of them knew the location, only one portion of the coordinates. The obvious answer was that the Directorate and V.V were making their move, but would they move so boldly, I do not believe so, they would infiltrate and subvert, get control of segments of my organization and break them away from me. "Dispatch Dorathea immediately!"

"What is happening Andre?" Nelly's question did not really register with me, being deep in thought, other than the Directorate only a select few could move on my faction like this, those being Lelouch and his Black-knights, unlikely but possible, that bloody Peace-Mark from oz was it? Was it from there? I am not sure, I only watched that series once and it has been a long time, the last was one I both dreaded and anticipated.

I had thought that with all the things I butterflied away from the start, with killing Jerry and having Villetta and the other purebloods moved back to the homeland to restart their career as recruits, I never expected Mao to still be able to find C.C, maybe I had underestimated his intelligence. However this did give me an opportunity, one I have been waiting for, maybe this could be to my advantage.

"I am not sure Nelly, but I am going to find out."

…..

The doors of the clubhouse swung open wide as he entered, the guards letting him pass without a word, what he saw there made his anger rise. Kallen and Suzaku were tied to a pair of chairs, both seemingly knocked unconscious, and C.C, she was dead, well, for now at least, quite literally nailed to a board. Al the while he stood there, atop the stairs in his very own home, while he could do nothing about it, nobody to come aid him.

"Glad to see you understand the situation Lulu!" The white haired Bastard said, "I have been planning this for weeks now, it would be such a waste to not have my entertainment."

What do you mean by that you bastard?

"Oh simple really, I have a little challenge for you, well mainly for my own entertainment, since you are the reason it took me so long to find my C.C I am feeling a little bit vengeful."

Challenge?

"Yes, three lives to you, three to me, seems fair yes? Of course, for every live you lose before your last, one of your friends on those chairs dies, lose your last one, and well I am sure you can guess."

Damn you, what is the challenge then.

"Oh, this is one you will enjoy, let's do some chess!"

…..

Something was up, Mao could feel it, minds going blank on the outer perimeter of his perception while he was busy breaking Lelouch's feeling of invincibility during his game of chess, dragging it out as long as he could to maximize the boy's humiliation. But while he was sure something was happening to his servants, he also knew the boy had nothing to do with it, there were no signs in his mind of calling reinforcements.

"What was your plan here Lulu? I wonder what you were thinking when you came in here and saw my plans unfold!" Yes, that always worked, drawing memories forward made them easier to read, still he could find nothing, NOTHING! Of calling for reinforcements! What was he planning then, what could he possibly have up his sleeve?

"Checkmate in five." Damn, he was not paying attention for only three turns and suddenly Lelouch had him in check, with guarantied checkmate in five turns no matter his actions.

"Well, I suppose I am down a life then, round two."

….

"...the Ashford Academy appears to no longer be responding too, seeing as you are with Milly right now, maybe she could help you check it out, Caveira, Vigil and Nokk from R6 are at your disposal for additional security, meet them at the nearest safehouse, expect trouble of the tier-5 variety. Get back after the academy is safe ASAP" Marius listened to the voicemail, Milly's concern clear next to him, he focused, its been a while since he had done field work without the Hercules, but it seems it was time for some exercise.

"Do you want to help?" He asked as they ran to the car that had brought them here, Tier-5 meant forces beyond understanding, something that Ande had rarely discussed, but had warned him about, apparently the world was a lot stranger then he was meant to understand.

"Of course, the Academy is my home Marius, I am coming with you."

…

Aim, pull, breath in, breath out, a shot supressed shot flies across the campus of the academy, taking another traitor down. Creeping through the halls she had lived in for nearly a decade, mind an impenetrable wall as she had practised for so long, avoiding confrontation large enough to give the mind reader an image of her. Once again she complimented her masters planning, long before he had gotten his own power he had already prepared a plan to counter mind readers, and it was coming to use perfectly.

Her blade tasted blood again as she moved without thought to the next area, death was a kindness to these people, people who had betrayed her master by merely existing. The entrance to the tunnels was in sight, she could finish this soon, the automated defences were locked with biometrics, but she could find a way around it.

…..

More and more were going down, from multiple areas this time, whatever was going on was not normal, he could detect but two minds moving freely through the academy, both not ones he recognized but assumed to be students running away towards the tunnels for their escape by their thoughts of fear and focus. So what could the boy have planned, and how was it going so smoothly, and most importantly how was he not able to see it!

The boys mind was an open book! Was he using that to hide the memory of this plan?!

"Come now Mao, don't panic, you can read my mind can't you, how could you lose?" And he was so damned arrogant! Holding even the slightest advantage made the boy gloat! It was infuriating! "How could you ever not foresee my moves when you are literally in my head after all?"

"Now, now Lulu, don't get ahead of yourself, even a single loss on your end means the death of one of your friends."

…..

"It's through here Marius, I can get the auto defences online, then it will be only be a job of setting the targets."

"Good, we have no idea how many of them there are, and when The Prince can deliver more reinforcements." Milly nodded at that, she was sure that Andre could get control of her home back easily, but that was likely to reveal Nunnally and Lelouch, if she got the auto defences working Milly was sure she could convince Andre to let her deal with the situation. Those turrets could easily kill these terrorists, afterwards it would just be clean up. "If this works, I can promise you we will keep military forces away from the Academy, if that is your wish, you own guards can handle the rest."

"Reading my thoughts are you Marius? Thank you, that will be the best."

…..

"Tick tock Mao, it won't be long before the Brits notice the academy is under attack."

"Oh don't worry Lelouch, this is not the only place under attack, it will be a long time before your brother thinks to investigate the academy, not when so many of his 'secret' facilities are under 'attack'." Of course Mao was a bit unsure if the Lion knew of his brothers existence, if he did then he had a lot less time then he would have preferred, but he would manage, Lelouch was only thirteen moves from loss, at least to the boy's own calculations. "There is no help coming."

"Now that is where you are wrong." Mao dove into the boys mind at those words, finding something new, he had Geassed himself! To hide what he was planning! Brilliant! And terrible! The turrets would end him in moments!

"Shoot them n-"

BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG

The soldiers around him dropped down dead, and Mao triggered his escape with a growl, disappearing in the blast of a flashbang and emp.

…..

An hour had passed since the chaos of the takeover, and Kallen found herself nursing the bruise on her head, drinking from a bottle of rum Marius had left behind before departing, apparently he always kept one on him for Andre. Suzaku had departed half an hour ago himself to safeguard his Princess, at least that is what he told them, Kallen suspected Euphemia was just worried about her boyfriend.

"So Lelouch, what the fuck was all of that?" Her question made the man sigh, C.C lay by his side, looking like her old self, still Kallen could tell she was not feeling quite good. Kallen suspected there was something more going on, with the fucking mind reader and everything, and she was willing to bet Lelouch and C.C had some kind of power of their own. "What the hell is going on?"

"A lot Kallen, believe me, you are in for a hell of a story."

"I imagine so, why don't you just start talking and I will listen, I trust that you won't lie."

"What that man, Mao, used, is called Geass, a power used by ancient families like my own, many within my family, even those with only a minor relation are often born with such a power, it varies per person heavily. Some get the ability to grant it to others, like C.C, which also comes with a painful regenerative immortality called a Code, Mao was one she granted a Geass too, long ago."

"So the two of you are related?" Kallen was forced to ask, C.C did not look at all Britannian after all.

"Girl I have been alive for nearly a thousand years, any blood relations I had are long since dead."

"Oh." What else could she say, living for a thousand years had to have been torture, watching all she loved wither and die.

"Mao became obsessed with her due to a mutation in his Geass, he could not control it, not like he was supposed to, and began reading the minds of everyone around him, slowly going insane due to it. But because of her Code, C.C was immune, more than that, she was a void, when he was near enough to her his Geass shut down."

"So he wanted to capture her... but why stay here and give you the chance to win." What kind of lunatic would risk that, when their victory was so close by, why would he risk losing it.

"Because he is insane and wanted to punish her by killing me." Oh, well, insanity is not meant to be understood.

"And he will try it again now that he escaped?"

"Most likely." Well, that would not do, but first, she had to know something.

"Before I make a call, I need to ask one thing, do you have such a Geass Lelouch?"

"Yes, I can control someone as long as I keep eye contact. Trust me, I have not used it on any of the Black-knights." Why did her mind feel so hazy for a moment... well it was not important, she trusted Lelouch after all.

"I trust you Lelouch, you know that." She stood up, grabbing her phone from her pocket and dialling a number, it was picked up after a few seconds. "Hey, yes I am fine thank you, hey I need a favour Andre..."

…..

Mao felt true panic for the first time in a long time, he was in his base, his safe space away from the world, and he could feel his guards being killed, but that was not what was truly worrying him no it was what was doing the killing. A screaming single mind that hurt to even hear, a hundred heads connected and thundering thoughts back and forth, each overpowering the other in a chaotic mess of pain and emotion.

It burned when he tried to read it, for it was an it, this was no person, this was a single thing, a single monstrous thing filled with emotions so powerful it brough him nearly to tears. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his head for the slight relief it brought him, the last of his guards died and the door to his room creaked open.

"So, you are Mao, kind of pathetic really." The voice was low and powerful, his eyes took in the form in front of him, the Lion, the centre of the monstrosity that was the minds around him, the man's eyes ablaze with Geass. "Oh can't look up here can you? Good, that means my hypothesis was correct, my mind is spread between so many people you see, unable to be affected by Geass while my own is active.

"Why..."

"Oh, well, let me turn this off." The man's eyes stop shining, and Mao slowly felt his mind stop tearing itself apart.

…..

Mao stared up at me with wide, scared eyes. Like I was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen or thought of, which I am, yes I know you are in here Mao.

"Your insane."

Yes, I am, and I know it, I have been since I came here, it's the only way to survive, I do have to thank you though, you gave me the perfect chance to test my Geass immunity plan. Now why don't you look through these, I want to see what you think. I pulled forward every one of my plans and ideas since coming here, letting the man laying prone look through them, I laughed loudly as he shuddered.

"So many, how do you keep track... its your every waking thought! It's Insane!"

Yes Mao, and that is not even the best part, here, let me show you the lie of this world. Forcing the entirety of my memory of Code Geass through my mind, Mao slowly and slowly become even more distraught as I showed him his entire life was a lie. I showed him his own death, which I had watched many a time, letting him analyse every detail.

"No, no its impossible!"

Now Mao, I think it's time to end this, I have so much to do, and so little time, usually I despise killing in person, its different from when in my Knightmare you know, too personal, still I would say I am sorry about this, but we both know that is a lie. My pistol raised as I sent my last plan forward through my mind, a going away present for you Mao.

"You're the I-" BANG

Now, now Mao, don't tell everybody listening in, don't want to spoil the surprise for Amon, he might be upset.

…

The one quote I use the most, the one I find myself thinking of the most, the one I want on my gravestone.

Nothing is ever simple.

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.

Kudos to anyone who figures out what Mao was about to say.