Ch. 1: Entering the Unknown
2:00 PM, Zero's Office, Horai Island, 2018 ATB
After completing a meeting among the Black Knights, Lelouch, dressed as Zero, came into the room and sat down at his desk. He took off his helmet, allowing cool air to flow over Lelouch's sweaty hair. The meeting made him feel somewhat exhausted, and the thunderstorm occurring outside wasn't making him feel better either.
While relaxing at his desk, Lelouch still thought about what C.C. said to him the other night. Lelouch immediately grabbed his computer, went on the internet, and looked for reports on the recent astronomical phenomenon. He found a recently posted news report on the subject and decided to watch it.
"So Professor, you say an event like the one that has been going on for the past three days is a once in a lifetime chance?" asked the female news reporter.
"Correct. Physicists and engineers all over the planet have never been any more excited. Subatomic particles like these are as far as we know scarce in the universe. If we can manage to unravel the mysteries and properties of these particles, our understanding of physics will be totally shaken up." answered a middle-aged man wearing a clean grey suit.
"But sir, there have been many concerns from the general public about the hazards of these particles. I mean, are they carcinogenic? Will they interfere with our orbiting satellites? Should we defend ourselves?" asked the reporter.
"There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that indicates these particles are capable of harming living creatures or electronics. According to our various calculations made in previous quantum mechanical experiments, these particles will simply pass through almost anything without leaving a mark. In fact, our detectors had to be made from the heaviest, most expensive metals known to man. They are extremely powerful particles, so powerful that they leave no mark when they pass through a medium." explained the Professor.
Lelouch then stopped the video and thought to himself, wondering what exactly were those images showing him. He immediately started to arrange the various thoughts and ideas he had into a logical scenario.
"If C.C. is correct, then it could well be the result of these subatomic particles coming from space. They said these particles don't interfere with living organisms or electronics, but that doesn't mean it can't interfere with geass. The idea of geass is linked to something in the universe, if not something even greater."
Suddenly Lelouch became surprised by a sudden beeping noise coming from his phone. He took it out to see who was calling. The caller id said Rivalz. Lelouch immediately answered it.
"Yeah I'm here." said Lelouch.
"Hey! I've been looking for you everywhere. Did you forgot what was going on today?" asked Rivalz. Lelouch then suddenly started to become worried.
"Uh, exactly what were we doing today?" asked a confused Lelouch.
"Oh, don't tell me you actually forgot. Our meeting on the club's budget is today at 3:00 PM." Rivalz answered.
"Oh crap! That was today? I totally forgot. I'll be over as soon as possible." answered a now shocked Lelouch.
"Well you better hurry. This is one of the club's most important meetings. If we don't get anything done here, the club could be disbanded." said Rivalz.
"Alright then. Bye." Lelouch said before hanging up. Lelouch looked at his clock, which said 2:07 PM. Lelouch, trying to conserve as much time as possible, immediately changed into his Ashford Academy uniform, got his school bag, and headed towards the hangar which housed the Shinkirō. Luckily the halls were practically empty due to the fact that most of the Black Knights were in the lunch hall now. Lelouch managed to reach the door to the hangar unseen. He first peeked through to make sure no one was in the hangar. The hangar was dark and quiet. While heading towards the Shinkirō, Lelouch heard someone come into the hangar. He immediately hid behind some boxes of supplies. Fortunately it was just Kallen and C.C.
"Hey Zero are you in here?! I really need your approval on this." yelled Kallen as C.C. was following her. Lelouch quickly left his hiding spot and confronted Kallen.
"Lelouch? What the hell are you doing without your mask on? Do you not understand the risk..." Kallen said before Lelouch interrupted her.
"Kallen, I have an extremely important club meeting that I cannot afford being late for. Changing into my Ashford Academy uniform here saves me some time. Don't worry, I ensured no one saw me. I'm going to use the Shinkirō to quickly get back to Tokyo." Lelouch explained.
"Are you mad Lelouch. First risking exposing your identity is one thing, but driving a Knightmare Frame in the middle of a thunderstorm?!" Kallen angrily responded.
"Don't worry. The Shinkirō can easily handle such conditions and I have piloted in worst conditions. Anyway I really need to go right now." said Lelouch.
"What about the newly set up prototype you wanted to tell him about Kallen?" said C.C. in her usual calm manner.
"Oh yeah. Lelouch, Rakshata just managed to import a prototype particle accelerator from our supporters in India." said Kallen.
"A what? I wasn't aware of such a transaction. What is she planning to use it for?" asked Lelouch.
"She states she could use this new prototype to improve the mechanics behind our hadron cannons and Gefjun Disturbers. Anyway, as leader of the Black Knights, I need you to approve the shipment of the machine and sign these papers." Kallen answered.
"Can't it wait? I told you I'm in a real hurry and..." said Lelouch before being interrupted by Kallen.
"Lelouch this is serious business here. If these papers aren't signed by today, the Black Knights could potentially be plunged into a bureaucratic mess, and that is something we can't afford now. Besides, all I'm asking for you is to inspect the machine and sign these papers. It will only take a few minutes." said Kallen.
"Ok ok. Let's just get this over with. Where is this new prototype anyway?" asked Lelouch.
"Rakshata stated she wanted to understand the mechanics behind the new machine and decided to set it up in one of her R&D hangars." Kallen answered.
Kallen and C.C. led Lelouch through the hallways, making sure no one was in the halls. They quickly moved through the empty hallways and went into the R&D hangar. Inside was the particle accelerator, which looked like a doughnut comprising of rings of wires, magnets, and pipes. Dozens of computers were already connected to the machine. The machine apparently had tons of small wires coming out of it and some bigger ones connecting to the hangar's main power source.
"Lelouch just give the thing a quick inspection. I'm just going to get these papers organized for you." said Kallen. She then went to one of the desks in the room to organize the papers Lelouch needed to sign. Lelouch, with C.C. following him, meanwhile inspected the machine by walking towards the center of the ring via a cross-over ladder. Lelouch suddenly found himself surrounded by wires and other various mechanical parts. Lelouch then proceeded to quickly look over the details of the accelerator.
"Are you still concerned about what you saw. Do you wonder what exactly you saw? Was it real or not?" said C.C. Lelouch lost his train of thought and looked at C.C.
"This is not the best time for your tricks. I'm already a few minutes behind schedule." Lelouch responded. However, Lelouch was still wondering about that dream-like episode he had the other night. No matter how many times he tried to think of something else, his mind always was attracted to what he saw.
Outside, with the storm still going on, a lighting bolt manage to strike one of the large power cables leading into the hangar. The sudden surge of electricity traveled through the cable, which was connected to the particle accelerator. As a result, the surge caused the accelerator to activate on its own, resulting a loud, rising, humming noise. Sparks could then be seen popping out of some of the wires. Kallen immediately dropped the papers in her hand, and rushed towards the control monitor. Lelouch tried to get away from the now active accelerator, but the overcharged machine zapped his hand when he tried to get back to the ladder he used to get in.
"Turn it off Kallen!" yelled Lelouch. Kallen immediately started to toy around with the machine's controls.
"It won't turn off! It says that there is particle interference in the system!" Kallen yelled back.
"Particle interference? Must be from the recent bombardment of subatomic particles. The sudden surge must've caused the accelerator to activate, resulting in the rotational acceleration of the particles in the machine. The subatomic particles from space must be interacting with the ones in the machine." Lelouch thought to himself. Suddenly an alarm could be heard while the machine was starting to hum faster.
"WARNING: HIGH RISK OF OVERHEATING! EVACUATE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY!" a computerized voice repeatedly said. Lelouch realized that the machine wasn't meant to handle this much stress all at once.
"KALLEN. GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!" yelled Lelouch at the top of his lungs.
"I WON'T LEAVE YOU BEHIND. IF YOU DIE HERE, THEN I'LL..." Kallen yelled.
"TRUST ME! I'LL FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS! I WON'T DIE HERE! I PROMISE! ALL I ASK FOR YOU IS TO GET TO SAFETY!" responded Lelouch. Kallen, with a tear falling against her face, ran out of the room and into the hallway.
"I really wish I could keep my end of that promise." Lelouch said to himself. The machine around him started to get brighter and the machine started to hum louder than ever. Then at the last second, C.C. clenched Lelouch close to her body, as if she was trying to shield him.
"Lelouch, you can't die here. We still have our contract..." said C.C. as her geass sigil started to glow on her forehead. Then Lelouch and C.C. were consumed in a blinding white light. The light was so bright, almost all of Horai Island were blinded by it.
"KABOOOOOOOM!" Suddenly everyone looked for the source of the sound. They immediately looked outside and were shocked to see the entire R&D hangar practically in smoldering ruins, with large clouds of smoke still rising into the air.
Lelouch suddenly found himself surrounded by white, continuously falling downwards slowly. This sensation was similar to the one in that "dream" he had. As he was "falling", Lelouch saw all the white around him become pitch black before he felt himself accelerating downward. He kept falling until he landed what felt like cold water.
Once surfacing to catch his breath, Lelouch found himself in the middle of a storm in what appeared to be an ocean.
"How did I get here? I was on Horai Island then that explosion occurred. Was I simply flung out to sea? No, I should be dead then. But then C.C..." Lelouch thought before he saw a ship nearby.
"HEY! HELP!" yelled Lelouch as he waved at the ship. The ship then started to heads towards him and Lelouch could see the ship's light getting brighter.
Author's Note: Sorry if I was being too complicated with the particle accelerator part. But it was essential for the story. Next chapter is where the story starts to really roll out. And for people wondering where Lelouch is now after the incident, that surprise will be unveiled next chapter too.