"There was a time I had hope… what a childish thing…"

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.

…..

The ruins of the shattered city were still fresh on my mind as I lay on the floor of the Mind Elevator Cave, the Rod From God, my anti Damoclese expended on threat that would have never existed before my arrival in this world. And as I lay bleeding to what was my likely death, or at least long term incapacitation with Kallen sitting beside me in a state best described as pure panic, I realised I have a lot left to do in this world.

"What the fuck happened... I could not stop... I tried to drop the gun... I tried, I promise..." She was muttering almost too fast to catch, fuck raising my arm hurt, but I grabbed her hand, breaking her out of her panic, I hope. "Andre..."

"Its okay Kallen, its not your fault, his Geass did this to you, I never thought he would go that far, I am so sorry..."

"I shot you Andre! I was not in control!"

"I know Kallen, and it was not your fault, I do not have a way of cancelling out what Lelouch did to you, not yet, but I promise you Kallen, I will find a way."

"Andre, I don't understand! What the fuck is happening! What the fuck did Lelouch do!"

"Geass is the power of the king, a corrupting force that manifests differently in all who receive its power, did Lelouch tell you about it at all?"

Her face twisted briefly, going through a variety of emotions before setting back on confusion.

"I do remember talking about it, but... I feel weird when I think about it, like I was reassured at the time but..."

"Geass is a mental power Kallen, it relates at all times to the mind, Lelouch's Geass is mind control, he can implant a command in anyone, a single command.

"Trust me."

As bad as I feared then, fuck, I looked around the room, hoping to think of some answer to this shit, something I could do now, that was when I noticed that the Thought elevator began to glow. Damnit, when it rains it pours, when it pours its molten fucking lava.

"Kallen, I promise that the next time we meet, I will have something to help you, for now I need you to run, don't search for Lelouch and Suzaku, stay away from him if he breaks out, stay away from C.C, stay away from the Black Knights just run and find somewhere safe, please."

"I... alright Andre, but my Brother, I... "

"If you have been given a command then he likely has one too... You don't know if your feelings are your own, I understand that, and you don't need to say it, know that I love you Kallen, and think on if you feel the same, but you have to go now."

"Alright... alright! I will go."

She stood, running from the cave as I reached into my pocket, pulling out my phone, tapping in a familiar security code and opening a line to every operative in my network. Hurry as the pink glow from the thought elevator expanded, bathing the cave in harsh burning light.

"This is The Illusive Man to all operatives, Code Lazarus, prepare contingencies and follow all set plans, TIM going dark, await next communication."

When the thought Elevators door fully opened I was just about to pass out, having just managed to enter the kill code into my phone, the only thing I caught was the shape of a robed Midget, fucking V.V, I will punt you someday.

…

"The Atlantis is in range of Vladivostok Commander."

Marius closed his eyes, doing his best to stay calm and channel the image of his missing brother in his mind. Andre had made this plan before he was gone, he knew this could happen, it was simply up to Marius to execute his plan, same as always, only without the Lion himself present. Vladivostok was the Unions stronghold in Asia, the outermost edge of the Union's reach, a fortress meant to survive being cut off from supplies for years, a true fortress city, the epitome of the Unions defensive warfare doctrine.

And it would shatter as his Brother planned before his disappearance, sure the Olympus was still undergoing repairs, but that was inconsequential. It amazed him how many plans his brother had ready for the eventuality of his disappearance, and how undeveloped some of them were compared to his usual plans. Still it gave Marius a solid base to work off of, to keep his Brothers personal forces together, as depleted as they were after the Beast Battle.

"Are all vessels in position?"

"Yes Commander, the transport fleet is in position and the pilots are boarding their frames."

"Raise the Atlantis, get us airborne and fire fusion lances on all ships that enter our range."

"Confirmed commander! All crew to Battlestations! I repeat all the crew to Battlestations, we are officially at war with the United European Union!"

As his brother would have said.

The Die is cast, let it fall on what it will.

…..

Akito clenched his hand around the heavy control stick of the Russian Wyvern Class Knightmare, the heavy machine was given to his squad as what he assumed was some sort of joke from their new commander. Wyvern company was a regiment that was often the bud of the joke of the European forces stationed at Vladivostok, which consisted mainly of Russian soldiers, where the newly formed company was made up of refugees from all across Asia, all of them displaced by the Lion's conquests nearly a half a decade before.

Despite the jokes and what could only be considered bullying, he was feeling almost excited, which was strange, he had never felt much emotion, but this bubbling mix of fear and exhilaration was almost pleasant.

"Lieutenant, I have confidence in the fact that you are ready for this, but please know that the Wyvern plasma wings are untested, any casualties sustained because of the detonation of equipment is to be considered as enemy sabotage in your after action report, am I understood?"

"Yes Commander Anou."

"Excellent, please direct your unit towards the nearest crossroads, the Britannian air Battleship has disabled our defences and we need it secure to protect our artillery."

"Understood, fifth unit is moving."

The Wyvern Type Knightmare was the Russian attempt at recreating the monster known as the Perseus, and despite their relative success in the construction of the main frame, the recently added plasma wings were... less then entirely functional. Still they were the closest any nation in the Union had come to flight capable Knightmares, and the Union needed all the help it could get against Britannia's Butcher.

"Fifth unit, on me, prepare for short flight."

….

"The harbour is secure! We are moving infantry into the streets, its going to be a grind!"

"Knightmare drops are securing crossroads around the city, the Union Knightmares are still as underdeveloped as predicted."

"Union artillery has set up on the other side of Russky Island, a Union unit is holding the crossroads, should I direct a Spartan unit?"

"Do it." Marius nodded, the newest generation of Spartans, the SPARTAN 5 was finally in operation, skipping several generations of development to jump straight into becoming a 7th gem model capable of flight using its plasma wings. "Bring us out of the city airspace, prepare to bombard the Nizkovodnny bridge, wipe it from the map."

"Yes Commander!"

The Bridge was the connection between the city and main Russian supply lines, with all the forts in the city already destroyed by the Atlantis's fusion lances it would not be long before the Russian forces would try to retreat over it. If their Knightmares were forced to retreat over the land route it would offer the landing vessel forces a chance to cut them off at Trudovoye, destroying this force would cripple the Russian fighting capabilities for a month at least, offering the chance to secure the area south of lake Khanka.

His brothers plans went that far at least, beyond this it would be up to him and the notes left.

He was not looking forward to that.

…

His Knightmares Katana was the one thing he had been able to acquire from the black market that was truly his, it had been bought from a Black-knight related dealer, and was one of the newer chainsword variants. Watching it carve off the arm of an advanced Britannian frame was satisfying in a strange way, he followed up his strike with a decapitating one, watching the head of what his tactical screens told him was a SPARTAN 2 fly away before its pilot ejected.

"Sound of if you're alive fifth unit."

The silence that followed was not ideal, he did not know the soldiers under his command well, most of them were from either the Philippines or southern China, and had followed his orders this past week, but he did not even know their names, just their callsigns. He gripped his Chainsaw Katana, thrusting forward to the Spartans companions, the pilot was experienced, and managed to dodge as well as strike with its own sword, he grunted as the shock ran through the frame, his shock absorbers had died on him again at the worst possible time.

"Fifth Unit, fall back immediately, the island has been compromised, Britannian aircraft have blasted our artillery to hell." The voice was not familiar, it was feminine, and younger then any female leaders in the Russian forces, still her tone was firm and brokered no argument, so he fire a chaff smoke canister and dashed into alleys for escape.

"Who are you."

"I am Commander Leile Macal, your new Commander."

"What about Commander Anou."

"That Bastard has been... relieved from command, from now on wZERO is under my direct command."

"Understood, what are my orders."

"Fall back, do not take the bridge, the Britannian carrier is turning it to rubble, regroup with my contacts at Trudovoye's bunker system, they are not European so do not get trigger happy."

"Understood, Fifth Lead out."

…

"Is my Frame prepared?"

"The Hercules Air Cavalry is ready for launch!"

"... Harris?"

"The one and only! I have been here the entire time, Marius! No way I am letting any of these fucks work on my only surviving ace machine!"

"Good to have you Harris, I will be down shortly. Commander Decita, you have battlefield command, alert me if anything gets outside of set parameters."

"Yes my Lord!"

The battle was progressing exactly as planned, not that it was much of a surprise, he looked at his watch, tapping a few buttons on the damned thing to get it to the screen he wanted, giving signals to various embedded assets Andre had prepared for this. They would make sure everything went exactly as planned, he had to play his own planned part now, time to raze Trudovoye to the ground.

…

"You are the Commanders Contacts." Akito analysed the two men waiting for him in the bunker's Knightmare hanger, one was a rather short man wearing a full suit of red and black armor, a pair of Sai at his hips. The other a tall south American looking man bound with muscle, his long black hair tied into a pony tail, wearing a white body suit and bearing a mechanical right arm, Pride Corp tech most likely, along with a massive Katana sheathed at his hip.

"Half of them anyway." The tall man spoke up, "Mistral and Sundowner are across town to keep the chaff away."

"What can I call you two."

"My codename is Monsoon." The short one spoke from under his mask. "Leader of the Four Winds, my companion here is Jetstream."

"But I go by Sam on the battlefield, much easier yes?"

"What are my orders."

"Prepare to watch our asses kid, jump in when things look rough, our job is to make that blond brat look like a genius."

"Who do you work for."

"None of your business." The tall one, Sam said. "Just think of our boss as an interested party."

"Alright."

….

"Sir, two advanced Knightmares are engaging our ground forces, they are holding us back near the town square." He nodded, not unexpected, the battle plan accounted for the Euro's to have a few tricks up their sleeves, they were likely hoping to stall the forces long enough for an organised retreat, that meant they would have to cut those two machines off, sandwich them between the Hercules and the other forces.

"Give me the location, I will engage, have a squad of Spartans redirected here to lead a spearpoint when I clean this up."

"Understood Commander, Godspeed, Leo Imperator."

"Leo Imperator." His reply did not have the same energy as it had a month ago, before his brother was gone, but it had become common lingo among the Britannian forces in Asia, a reassurance and a prayer in one. "Harris? What is the boosted speed on the Hercules Air Cav?"

"Just under the speed of sound Marius! It's a fair bit bulkier than the Perseus so its a fair bit slower too!"

"Well, might as well stress test him then, Hercules Air Cavalry, now launching.

…

"He has taken the bait."

"Good, seems the boss' plan works, bastard was always way too smart, get ready soldier, we have to catch him before he engages the others." Akito nodded at Monsoon, the man seated in his tall and thin Knightmare, holding two short blades, before sending a look at the other frame, Sam as the man insisted on being called. The man's Knightmare was not heavily customized, a Ronin model that was likely bought from the Black market, but the sword was clearly not standard at all, the massive two handed Naginata like blade it held glowign a soft menacing red. "You are on over watch, make sure to ping away at him whenever you get the chance, we only need to hold him back for twenty minutes, but if we can take out the frame…"

"Extra time to retreat for the rest of the forces. Understood, I will do my best."

"I am starting to like you kid, want to see some of my meme's later?"

"What."

"Just smile and nod Kiddo, it always works for me." Akito did as Sam suggested, he would remember that advice.

…..

Being ambushed was never fun, it was something Andre complained about constantly too, but this was honestly quite a good fight, if he was not commanding right now he might have immersed himself into it fully. The Hercules flew back on its new wings, easily tanking the few shots fired by the stray russian frame as he focused on his melee opponents, the short sword frame ducked another one of his missiles, the Air Cavalries many pods were running lower and lower with no results.

The large sword frame swiped at him again, and the glowing sword was not one he would try to tank, he recognized that infernal coloured energy, hardon energy sword, Harris would love a look at that thing. He ducked into the smaller frames guard, launching a series of plasma knuckles punches, only a single hit landing its explosive payload, that small duelwielder frame was way to fucking agile.

"Commander, Euro forces have organized a retreat, may I advice you disengage?"

"You may, it seems we have been partially bested… I have to evaluate the Lions plans for this, fire a missile barrage on my location, I will use it as cover."

"Understood Commander, Launching a barrage!"

…

The Nation still weeps for the loss of the past week, nearly a hundred thousand people are missing presumed dead, the leadership of the Britannian army in the Pacific has fallen to Lord Marius Ernst in the absence of the Lion and Iron Maiden. This is a tense time my fellow Britannian's chaos is consuming the world, but at least Zero is in Imperial custody."

Kallen tuned the Radio out, sitting in the dark of the Chinese apartment, wallowing in uncharacteristic self-pity, going through the events that had brought her here, the disasters that had followed the firing of the Rod From God. Disaster may have been the wrong term to use, it was too weak of a word to describe the apocalyptic week.

They had evacuated the area surrounding the Beast, abandoning defensive lines and wounded soldiers, discarding Knightmares by the hundreds, basically running for their life, before the five prongs of pure white light in the skies descended too close upon them. When the prongs hit, the ground shook like the land itself was ripping apart, and a the shockwave hit the combined forces with the power rivalling a tsunami.

When it had all been over, both sides of the combined forces of Japan and Britannia crawled back to lick their wounds, that was when C.C dragged Lelouch away, panicked. Kallen was naturally a little bit curious, and even though she could not remember much of the conversation, not after the whatever Lelouch had done to her, she knew she had called Andre for help and he had of course answered.

The events in that cave still made her head hurt, made her mind spin as if she were insane, but she had done as Andre had asked, had hidden herself away waiting to see what happened to the world while trying to figure out what had happened to herself. She stood from the old half broken couch and made her way to the kitchen, grabbing some instant Ramen and popping the Microwave open, it was not a good meal, but she could only go out for groceries at night, and it was all she had left in the house.

"The War against the Europians is boiling over with the first landings in Russia, one of the member states, as the empire prepares for full scale combat across all its fronts, a new leader has appeared in Africa..."

Kallen sat back down, eating her 'meal' and went back to thinking.

…..

The sounds of heavy footsteps outside her door woke Kallen up instantly, her hand clutched around her pistol which was aimed at the door in a second, at the first knock on the door Kallen held fire, the pattern was familiar. Too familiar, she threw the couch she had been sleeping on over, forcing it to act as cover as she aimed around the side of it. The pattern of knocks was one only one person knew, and it was a person she was not sure if she could trust right now.

"Go away!"

"Kallen let me in please!"

"Go Naoto! I can't trust you!"

"But you trust me don't you Kallen?"

The voice made that disgusting haze at the back of her mind billow forward, C.C, fuck, nononono! The haze wrapped around her head, she could feel it behind her eyes, could feel it burn its way in and twist and turn and felt the ridiculous pain it took to resist. She tried as hard as she could, but one thing kept coming from the haze.

'Trust C.C like you trust me Kallen.'

"Why don't you let us in Kallen."

"I... yes sure...C.C."

She moved to the door, opening the locks and allowing the two in, before sitting down on the couch, she was not quite sure why, but she felt strange, hazy, something was wrong but she could not place it. She could trust C.C though, that much was clear.

"Good to see you again Kallen, its been a while, I am going to need your help."

"With what?"

"Charles, he… he has made a mistake, he has taken something from me, and for the first time in centuries… for the first time I need to fight for what is mine. You are still our ace Kallen, I need your help to get him back, to get back the man I love, after that, well, I don't care about you, help me and I will release the command placed on you."

"Command?" The haze retreated as C.C placed a hand on hers, and Kallens hand reached for her pocket in an instant, grasping the knife within, that was until her brother locked her arms behind her back. "What the fuck! I wont fucking work for you, you made fucking Bitch!"

"Oh, but you will, whether you want too or not, I am getting him back Kallen, I have too, this way, if your work with me willingly, you get to go free after."

"ARHG! FUCK!"

"So Kallen, I offer you a Contract, the terms are set, do you accept the power of the King?"

"Naoto goes too!"

"Then we have a contract, the power of the King is a heavy burden, it will break something within you, be sure to survive long enough to grant me my wish."

…

"There is so much missing, so much haze… I cant… I cant… I cant…"

Kallen Kouzuki.