Area 11
Abandoned Base

"Alright, truth be told, there are two individuals who I see becoming enemies of Occulta. However, I don't know whether or not they could be counted as allies."

"So you don't know whether or not they will help us."

"Correct."

Everyone was gathered near the whiteboard again. They actually brought in a second one so Lelouch could keep the list of the UMNE's Divisions intact. Lelouch himself stood and paced, while everyone else sat and ate a makeshift dinner. Cysgod wrote something down on the board then pinned some photos below the words on the left side of the board.

young soldier / mercenary?

Six photos, all of them showing a young soldier in various garbs and carrying different weapons. The soldier was blonde and always wore a mask or dark glasses. One of the photos showed the young man with his shirt off, which showed a black mark on the right shoulder of his lean torso.

"This guy is a total wild card. However, he is a solid enemy of the UMNE."

"What makes you say that?" asked Tamaki. "Mercenaries only work for the highest."

"Well," Cysgod began tapping each of the photos in turn, "this was in a realm where Earth was being invaded during a world war, he intervened on the side opposite Occulta, providing ginger, among other things, to the invaders. Here, he blew up a manufacturing complex in Lietuvan that Occulta built. This one was taken on the outskirts of Videssos in the aftermath of a battle against the UMNE. Here, he was part of a rogue unit of Allied soldiers who managed to work with both their own countries and the Empire of the Rising Sun against a Daemon-backed Soviet Union. And this one here, this was taken shortly before Occulta-supported Chinese tried, and failed, to obliterate the city of Dushanbe."

"So he only fights against the UMNE," Sugiyama surmised.

"As far as I can tell. I've caught glimpses of him more than enough to believe as much."

"Great," said Lelouch, "lets contact him."

"There's just one problem."

"Which is?"

"Unless he shows himself first, it will be nearly impossible to find him." Some of them groaned at this while Cysgod proceeded to unveil some more photos and wrote down two more lines.

Alex Powers
criminal prodigy / mastermind

Of the four photos that were posted, two were in black and white and one of them was a painting. The painting was obviously a portrait that showed a young man with dark brown hair (neatly combed so that it flipped over at the front), bright green eyes, wearing a black suit with a white dress shirt, red necktie, and glossy black shoes. Draped around his neck on either side of the open front was a white sash.

"This is Alex Powers. Like more than a few I encountered, Alex is from a different universe. However, his story is extremely different. He and his followers don't seek power; only success, notoriety, and thrill. To put it simply, he's a thief, smuggler, and mobster."

"So does he have something to do with Occulta?" asked Nagata.

"I'm not sure yet."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I was honestly unaware of Powers, up until..." he counted on his fingers, "3 months ago when I was in a different realm. I found one of Occulta's agents spying on an elitist academy...

"What's Occulta planning now?"
"Hell if I know, ask him yourself." Cysgod hit the injured agent over the head with his revolver.
"You know something. Why are you spying on a private academy?"
"Oh, that? I'm not spying on the school, I'm keeping tabs on the Facinus."
"The who now?"
The agent actually laughed a little.
"You're the Far-Traveling Alchemist and you don't know? They've been around just as long as we have."
"Who are they?"
"Punks. A horde of young punks under their so-called godfather, Alex Powers." Another Alex, great.
"He's hiding out in an all-girl school for the elite?"
"Nope, but he's about to attack it."
"What?"
"You want to help those bourgeoisies, go ahead. If you kill him, then you'd be doing everyone a favor!"

...so of course I head to the school in question."

"What sort of school?" Milly asked.

"It was a specialized school for the daughters of high-class society. Not nobility, mind you, high-class, mainly the extremely wealthy. In any case, I was too late to intervene, but I was able to see Alex.

Cysgod knelt down in the shrubs, brandishing a camera with a telescopic lens and a directional microphone. The school in question was being ransacked, the students being herded into box trucks while valuables were being stolen. On a small rise before the school proper stood three adolescents and two women, hands bound, on their knees.
"You won't get away with this," one of the women announced in a scolding tone.
"Really," wondered Alex, "and why would you think that?"
"Do you not realize that this school is for the education of the daughters of the rich and powerful?"
"So I am aware, though you're doing a terrible job at it."
"Excuse me?"
"Your students are the most docile sheep I've ever witnessed. Keeping them all in the mountains and not exposing them to trials and tribulations. Some of my brothers almost shot some of them because they didn't know they had guns pointed at them!"
"Nevermind that. Many of their parents are in highly influential positions. They will hunt you down."
"Perhaps, but isn't it you're fault that we're here at all?"
"Our fault?"
"Yes, your fault. After all, you're the ones who up-and-kidnapped someone from our territory."
"What are you talking about?"
"You hired men to forcibly remove a male student from his school in Akiruno. Much of Akiruno, not all of it, but much of it, is under our protection. People and businesses pay us, and we make sure bad things don't happen. So imagine how everyone would react if they realized we let a kidnapping occur right under our noses. It's embarrassing, not to mention insulting."
"You're attacking a school of innocent young maidens!" the other woman, a maid, snapped. "That's far worse than enrolling a male student with the help of body builders!"
"Hmm... Daniel, light yourself one."
"Really?"
"Yeah, just one, savor this moment." The one named Daniel put a cigarette in his mouth and began clicking a lighter. Alex then sauntered over and said something in a low voice that Cysgod failed to catch. The first woman spoke up.
"Who are you to say that? More importantly what are you going to do with my students?"
"I believe the term used by self-righteous sorts is: liberate them. I am not self-righteous, so I'm going to say: educate them. Not in academics, of course, but something much more valuable."
"You mean brainwash them?"
"All education is brainwashing."
"Imparting knowledge is not brainwashing."
"Not when the teacher lacks essential knowledge themselves. I mean, come on, you have daughters of the elite gathered together in an isolated location. With such students are their enrollment information, personal correspondence and family data. If you had both the knowledge and wisdom, you would've at least gotten your students better security."
"We're all done here," the last boy reported.
"Thank you Gabriel." Daniel was finally able to light his cigarette, taking a long drag.
"Oh, that's good."
"Good," said Alex, snatching the snout from Daniel's mouth, "now savor it." He flicked the cigarette onto part of the grass and a line of gasoline fired up.
"Oh come on! That was only one drag!"
"Savor it brother."
"Shut it Gabe!" The fire reached the buildings as other juvenile delinquents started to pile onto their trucks. "Now then, here's a lesson to both of you." Alex pulled out a handgun and shot the maid in the leg.
"Miyuki!"
"Listen carefully, teacher," Alex held out a poor-quality cell phone. "This is a disposable cell phone with only enough battery life for one phone call. Your friend is bleeding out, your school is on fire, and we are about to make our escape. Ambulance, Fire, Police." He placed the phone on the ground and stabbed an open pocket-knife into the dirt. "I trust you'll make the right call."

"So, wait a minute..." Oghi raised a hand. "This is all stuff you heard this Alex Powers say?"

"Yes."

"So... he kidnapped a school-full of children, set the school on fire, shot someone and then left a phone for the other woman to call for help?"

"Correct."

"And what happened after that?"

"Well," Cysgod reached back into his satchel, "not much in regard to Alex Powers. But on the other hand, quite a bit." He laid out some newspaper clippings, all dated: November, 2011

Elite Academy Attacked

Zaibatsu in Turmoil

Kidnap & Coercion for Education?

Hikikomori Hotbed - What were they teaching at Seikain?

"As for the children, I was able to grab one of the trucks with five students on board. They're safe now; at least, for the time being."

"Zaibatsu?" Nagata pondered. "So the students were children of business leaders?"

"Among other things, yes."

"What does hiki..." Milly frowned as she scrutinized the word, "hi-ki-ko-mori, what does that mean? It sounds like an Elev-" she forced a cough, "like a non-Britannian word."

"It means: pulling inward," Kallen explained, "or: being confined. Perhaps they're talking about how the school was in the mountains."

"More importantly," Shirley held up one of the clippings and squinted at the dateline, "didn't you say this was three months ago?"

"That's right."

"But this took place in November, six years ago."

"Every realm has it's own time, and time sometimes moves slower or faster than other realms. I don't know why, it's just how it is."

"So this Alex," said Lelouch, wanting to get back on track, "he's also against the UMNE, but he's an unabashed criminal with an odd sense of ethics?"

"Exactly. Which is why I'm not exactly eager to seek him out."

"Is he even in this world?"

"Somewhere in the middle east, though I don't know where."

Aeternum Renegade Social Exchange

["Headstrong" - Trapt]

Rivalz and Cornelia continued to sit at the table with Meier looking over them, sipping a glass of Orange-Vanilla Coke (whatever that was). The party was still in full swing, with all the adolescent members of the Facinus and the former Britannians, the just inducted "new brothers," swaying and bouncing to the roarkus music. Cornelia could only press her fingers against her temple.

"Could we at least silence this racket? That, or put me back in the cell." This was humor to Meier.

"Ha! Aren't you supposed to be a military leader? What sort of warrior are you if you can't handle a little music."

"This is not music," Cornelia retorted, attempting to glower at their watchdog. Rivalz, meanwhile, was trying to focus on all the new Facinus members, many of whom were close to his age. This was hard, of course. With the pulsing lights and the throng of juvenile delinquents jumping around and going this-way and that, not to mention all the former Britannians were spread out all across the room. He was able to follow a handful of them.

That one with fair brown skin and light black hair had went to a table near the main door and hugged a similar-looking woman. His mother? Then the woman left and now the young man had meandered around a bit before meeting up with a different inductee and two Facinus members.

The one with slicked-back blond hair hung around the Eleven-looking Facinus member. Then he and the member met up with an olive-skinned member and that first inductee. Both he and the other carried themselves in an upright manner, like those students from military households.

Another inductee stood tall, not far from their table alongside a shorter inductee. Both had black hair and dark, maybe brown, eyes; they looked like brothers. The taller one wandered around until a girl tapped his shoulder. He and the girl were now sitting at a table across the room, engrossed in conversation.

The younger brother... lost track of him.

A different inductee Rivalz was able to follow had neatly groomed, honey blonde hair and wore a black frock coat and white cravat. He had been conversing with a young man who, in turn, rolled up his sleeve to show an odd fish-shaped symbol on the inside of his arm. Then the finely-dressed inductee moved toward the entrance and took a seat next to a young woman. After conversing with some of the adults, both the inductee and the young woman left.

Then there was-

"How are things?" Rivalz jumped as Dillinger came to the table.

"Perfect timing," Meier said, standing and offering his seat. "Elohim eenok-hooyot."

"Of course," Dillinger said with a chuckle, taking Meier's seat.

"What did he say?" Cornelia asked as Meier went off.

"'God's inconvenience,' his way of saying: nature calls." Dillinger leaned back in his seat and stretched. "Glad to know you two are enjoying yourselves."

"Like we have a choice," Cornelia remarked.

"But at least you're out of your cells, right?"

"While we're on that topic," Rivalz interjected, fingering the lapels of the turncoat blazer, "why do we have to wear these weird clothes?"

"You wanna go naked?"

"No- that's not what I-!" Rivalz hopped to his feet and took off the blazer, showing the inside and the crude patch-letter quote. "Why this?" Both of them could see Dillinger try, and fail, to suppress a smirk.

"Yes, I can see how that bit of penmanship can get under your skin. Would you prefer a sweater knit from the finest cashmere; mind you, it would be quite uncomfortable to wear in the desert." Rivalz blustered mildly before putting the blazer back on and sitting down. "Don't worry, you'll get your own clothes back after they're washed."

["Headstrong" - END]

"More importantly," Cornelia pressed as the rabble roared, "why did you bring us out of our cells? To mock us? To mock me, a Princess of Britannia?"

"I wouldn't really call it mocking. But Alterie does have a habit of: sending-a-message every so often. Wish he would tell me whenever he did it though."

"Who?"

"Alex tends to go off-the-cuff at-"

"Enjoying yourselves, Lady Cornelia?"

"God damn it," Dillinger smarted as Alex, glass of a clear, bubbly liquid in his hand, spoke up to them from below.

"I figured you two should stretch your legs a bit."

"Sure you did," Cornelia retorted, "and you no doubt figured you could torture me as well."

"Oh come on Princess," Alex said, stepping onto the table directly beneath their elevated spot. "I know you Britannians aren't used to rock and roll, but calling it torture is a bit much."

"I'm referring to you initiation ceremony, boy!" she snapped, loudly and clearly enough to carry a bit across the crowded venue. Some of the emigres turned to look. "You finding satisfaction in mocking my current situation; as if I need reminding that Britannia has fallen." Alex shrugged his shoulders.

"With all do respect, that wasn't my intention."

"Then what was your intention?"

"Just to show you that things were changing."

"Just for that," she said slowly, anger obviously rising, enhanced by her headache.

"The Emperor is gone and a new tyrant is rising, not that it matters to us. After all, those of this life of ours exist regardless of whatever authority reigns. But even we need to adapt to change, adapt or die. And just a little while ago, some Britannians took it upon themselves to adapt," his eyes glinted, "something your own family failed to do for decades." Cornelia clenched her fists.

What, did this unabashed and executant punk want to teach her the folly of the royals? As if her unexpected defeat by an unknown foe could serve as proof of her family's failure to, what? To change with the times? As if they needed to change. The UMNE had obviously planned their attack for months, if not years. What good would gradual adaptation actually achieve in regard to a sneak attack by an unknown enemy?

"Leave her family out of this!" Rivalz suddenly spoke up. "Nevermind that Britannia has fallen, it is not her fault that she was defeated. She'd be dead if she hadn't tried her best." Cornelia was actually surprised, then worried. They had no idea how Alex would react to outbursts. As a criminal who talks of blood oaths; but Alex merely cocked his head. Rivalz kept going. "So what if her father was the Emperor? That doesn't mean she's responsible for her father's mistakes, or the government's. And what about you? You're a criminal; what right do you have to criticize the royals of a powerful- once powerful empire? You're a thief, possibly a murderer, a ruffian and an undignified hooligan." Alex's expression remained effortlessly unchanged as Rivalz stopped to take a breath. It was only then that he realized how many people were watching his spur-of-the-moment diatribe.

"Undignified?" Alex asked. Rivalz pressed his lips together. "Is that the best insult you can throw my way? I have no class; is that it?"

"Well..." Please say "no," Cornelia thought, "since you mentioned it: yes."

Oh no, was all Cornelia could think as Alex smirked at Rivalz. He then turned about, hopping back to the floor and looking about.

"Let me see... Eeny, meeny, miny- you and you." Two random Facinus underlings perked up and Alex waved them over as he strode to the side of the stage where the piano had been allocated.

"Oh now you got him going," Dillinger smarted, shaking his head. "If there's one thing Alterie loves doing, it's proving people wrong." Alex sat himself down as the two underlings climbed onto the stage. He downed the glass of bubbly beverage, then readied himself at the ivory keys.

Starting with his left hand, he began a moderately quick melody; seven notes that he repeated as the two on stage got sorted. One sat down by a peculiar percussion setup and the other went backstage and returned with a cylindrical shaker.

["Linus and Lucy" - Vince Guaraldi]

Suffice to say, the princess and the schoolboy were more than surprised.

As Alex played, the other Facinus members started clapping and some even divided into pairs, boys and girls, and started dancing in time with the music. More so when he suddenly shifted the melody and hammered at the keys; four sets of two-handed notes quickly followed-up by a line of eleven rapid-fire notes with his right, then effortlessly repeating. Even some of the adult emigres were joining in the revelry now.

"Definitely not what you call refined art," Cornelia remarked, "but he is very good. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume he received first class instruction."

"For the record," said Dillinger, leaning over to clearly speak to them, "he did live in a family of high status."

"Let me guess: his family did something offensive against the ruling family and were exiled?"

"He left, actually."

"What?"

"Who in their right mind would leave a noble family?" Rivalz asked with his arms crossed, pondering what Dillinger was telling them.

"You must understand, Alex Powers came from a different place altogether. Where he came from, his family were high executive members of a government organization called the Bureau of Economic Planning and National Resources. A mouth-full, I know. Alex didn't approve of the Bureau's policies however. He viewed it as robbery in broad daylight; taking hard earned money from well-to-do businessmen by force and giving the money to lesser companies that were 'less fortunate' and needed a 'helping hand.' All well and good except the less fortunate were those who were exploiting the system out of spite and most of them couldn't even weave a food basket. This led to a weakening economy, all in the name of so-called generosity. Alex saw what his parents were doing and left home, never to return."

"I see..." Rivalz slowly said as he digested Dillinger's words.

"So he became the rebellious child," Cornelia concluded. "His parents were stealing while preaching generosity; now Alex steals while being openly honest about the fact that he is, in fact, a thief."

"Amen to that," Dillinger concurred, raising his own glass, "and to that, I'll drink. Facinus Forever!"

["Linus and Lucy" - END]

Abandoned Base

Lelouch coughed up the drink he just tried to sip. "What the hell is this?"

"Seishu sake isn't for you, huh?" Nagata asked, obviously amused. It was around lunch time, so they were all gathered in the old mess-hall they had cleaned up earlier.

"I've had sake before," Lelouch spluttered back as the Japanese chuckled. "Isn't sake supposed to have some sort of coloring? I thought you gave me a cup water!"

"You had sake before?" Kallen inquired, holding her own cup to her lips.

"Yeah, years ago. It didn't taste like this though." Kallen's eyes narrowed, doubting this bluster. She took a sip.

"What did it taste like then?"

"A sweet and milky ginger sort-of taste, with a tad of bitterness." Oh?

"Amazake?"

"I think so." Kallen was honestly surprised, but decided not to show it.

"Keiryō," she said with a smirk. Tamaki and Yoshida snickered.

"What?"

"You're a lightweight."

"Hey!" Some of the others chuckled at his reaction, even the girls.

"There, there, Lelouch," Milly said, waving her hand in a gentle manner, "its alright if you can't stomach alcohol. It isn't like your pride is at stake."

"Ashford!"

"Well, I'm going to step outside," Cysgod announced as they all laughed again.

"Why? Something out there?"

"Not that I know of, but I'm probably going to set up some traps anyway."

Aeternum Renegade Social Exchange

"You're missing a party downstairs." Mark walked up to where Brian the Brain was sitting, scrutinizing a computer screen. "Hello, Earth-to-the Brain?"

"I'm not imagining this right?"

"What?"

"Here." Brian pointed to a spot at the screen and Mark leaned in. He frowned, squinting at a pulsating dot centered on Japan.

"A homing signal?"

"Yeah, a strong one."

"What sort?"

"Don't know yet. The computer is still running a diagnostic. Should I tell the boss?"

"Yeah, we should."

callsign: Dreyfus

Zeta checked the signal on his laptop. His hunch was spot-on, and the commanders acknowledged as much, telling him to keep up the good work. Orpheus did a good job too, planting a beacon on the Camelot transport. Now the rest was up to Suzaku.

At least the UMNE didn't have satellites up yet. But even if they did, the FAR technicians were certain that no one but them could track the signal.