A/N: Thank you to everyone who has favorite, reviewed the last chapter it is much appreciated. I was hoping to update some of my other stories before this one, but oh well. Let's get going.

I have to admit I had a bit of trouble thinking of a proper chapter for this title, but for now, I decided to settle on the one I have chosen since aside from some payback that happens people are reacting to specific events, namely being Chiaki.

I'll save everything else until the end of the chapter, but for now, enjoy.

"Dialog from a flashback and the person reading something in their mind"

Thoughts (unless used to emphasize a word in a sentence)

Chapter 21

Reprisal

"Ugh," Chiaki grunted as she struggled to reach a box of spaghetti noodles that was on the top shelf of an open cabinet that was just out of her reach.

"Chiaki, you know I can help too," A young man with short black hair with an ahoge on top called from the dining room noticing Chiaki's struggling to reach for the box.

"I can do it Hajime, I said I would make you something, and I'll make it just wait," Chiaki said with a tad hint of frustration in her voice.

Hajime Hinata sat in the dining room of Chiaki's apartment, which she lived by herself.

It was a modest apartment near the dorms of Hope's Peak Academy, and Chiaki had managed to cover the costs of living and rent thanks to a wealthy relative she had with the Six Houses of Kyoto as one of the few living family members he had left. Her parents had vanished almost four years ago, and she hadn't seen or heard from them since.

Chiaki was saddened by their disappearance, but it didn't change much since they rarely spent time with her; that led to her passion for video games. It helped her cope with the loneliness she was left to endure.

Hajime merely sighed when he heard the sound of a chair being dragged across the floor.

I may never win against her in a video game, but at least I got something I can hold over her, Hajime mused before realizing that attempt at internal humor came out terrible. I shouldn't poke fun about something like that.

A little while later Hajime and Chiaki were sitting down together with plates of pasta between them. Chiaki was thankful Hajime was in better spirits, which was part of the reason she had invited him for dinner. Compared to events days ago, Chiaki was worried for Hajime's well-being, because his actions saved the life of one of his classmates yet condemning one to death. Chiaki hadn't expected such a harsh punishment would be dealt out to a member of the Reserve Course for attempting to murder a fellow student.

Hajime's intervention saved the life of Fuyuhiko's younger sister who would've died at the hands of a girl her fellow classmate Mahiru was friends with. Everything Chiaki had learned about the situation between Sato and Natsumi came from Hajime after convincing Hajime to reveal what had happened after finding him despondent at their usual meeting place.

It had given Chiaki an early warning to be ready for a grieving Mahiru the next time she saw her.

How could the academy execute Mahiru's friend by firing squad and then make Hajime watch, Chiaki thought.

She couldn't understand the school's reasoning for forcing Hajime to watch Sato's execution. Chiaki thought that death by firing squad for attempted murder was extreme, but making the one who prevented the murder watch seemingly implied they were punishing him as well. Still, Chiaki knew Hajime intended to stop the murder before it could happen, but from what she had learned about Sato from Hajime and Mahiru it was apparent that Sato's defensive nature hid romantic feelings that borderline obsessive. It was likely what drove Sato to murder Natsumi even through Hajime was convinced she would never follow through on her threats, which he was sure of because Hajime spoke to Natsumi seemingly talking her out from making further threats.

I tried to convince her that was more to life than talent like making memories with her brother, Chiaki thought internally as she remembered what Hajime told her, a lesson she passed to him Chiaki had learned from her teacher.

Chiaki couldn't confirm if the words she learned from her teacher had helped Natsumi especially since the latter was pulled out of school after the incident, but she was glad to know Hajime wasn't so fixated on talent anymore and was becoming a more positive influence especially in Natsumi's case.

"After dinner, there is a new co-op game I got," Chiaki began.

"What kind," Hajime asked after swallowing a fork full of spaghetti.

"A game where you and friends can be pirates and sails seeking treasure and raiding other pirates," Chiaki explained.

"By other pirates you mean other players right, so it's a multiplayer game?"

Chiaki nodded before she answered, "It's a shared world game that is under development, but I got beta access for both of us."

"Well, ok then," Hajime said interested.

Returning to the present Chiaki began to stir as the eighteen-year-old noticed she was lying in her own bed. As her thoughts collected themselves trying to recall the last thing that happened, but she sadly realized the dream she had was a memory of the previous night she met with Hajime.

That was roughly a year ago.

I remember being in the Yamanashi Ghetto before that gang and, Chiaki thought after regaining full awareness as her eyes were open and she was close to recalling what happened.

The question that remained was how she got back to her apartment.

Chiaki sat up in bed, but upon scanning the room, she noticed she wasn't alone. In the corner of the room sitting in a pink chair by her desk was the man with the long hair, red eyes and black suit who had intervened. Izuru Kamakura silently observed her, but despite realizing there was an intimidating man in her room, Chiaki didn't feel any sense of danger.

On the contrary, the man, who appeared to be as old as she was, seemed familiar to her.

"Did you rescue me last night," Chiaki asked.

"I did, but I don't why I did," Izuru replied with a voice Chiaki recognized.

Thanks to how well lit her room was Chiaki took a closer look at Izuru's face, although his eyes were red and his hair was much longer there was no mistake.

"Hajime," Chiaki asked as she was positive the one who had saved him was her dearest friend who vanished without a trace.

"You are the second person to call me that, but I suppose that is to be expected since I was created from Hajime Hinata," Izuru replied coldly.

"What do you mean? Are you his brother, because you look identical other than the hair and eyes," a confused Chiaki inquired.

"No," Izuru replied. "Hajime Hinata was chosen for Hope's Peak Academy Hope Cultivation Project."

"Hope Cultivation Project," The Ultimate Gamer said prompting Izuru to explain.

"A project began by the Steering Committee who sought to artificially create a being worthy of the title Ultimate Hope. No one except the founder of Hope's Peak Academy was deemed worthy of such a title," Izuru answered before elaborating further. "When no one could be found the project was begun by intending to take a talentless youth and artificially infuse the subject with every talent studied by the academy."

"Studied?"

"Aside from cultivating talent, Hope's Peak Academy observed and conducted research on talent," Izuru answered. "All of which was used towards the creation of an Ultimate Hope endowed with every talent they had researched."

"So Hajime agreed to this," Chiaki said knowing where this was heading causing a chill to travel up her spine.

She had played enough science fiction video games to suspect, coupled with everything else she had learned, to know where this was heading.

"Yes, because his body was used as material to create me."

Chiaki was horrified, but she tried to grasp why Hajime would even agree to that.

Around the same time as Chiaki was learning more unsettling details about events surrounding Hajime's acceptance and transformation into Izuru Kamakura, there was another having an early morning phone call with Chisa at her apartment.

"It's bad enough the committee created a deus ex machina, but now according to Sakakura it seems their creation has somehow escaped," Munakata said on the other line.

After Chisa's successful infiltration of the Steering Committee's office and obtaining information regarding the Kamakura Project, it went without saying that Munakata was less than pleased about the existence of an experiment that seeks to artificially create an Ultimate Hope the committee could control would be an understatement. Now Chisa was learning from Munakata via Sakakura that the committee had seemingly lost their own creation.

"How is that possible?"

"The problem is that no one seems to know. At least according to what Sakakura managed to find out through bits and pieces of dialog from conversations, he overheard from the night guards," Munakata answered. "Beyond that, it seems the committee is just in the dark as we are, but it seems to have happened during the night of your mission."

Chisa considered that for a moment before a thought came to mind, "security was strangely light last night. It was almost too easy for me, which I thought was weird at the time."

"I see," the white-haired former Ultimate Student Council President said. "Then it's possible either their Ultimate Hope escaped on his own, or someone helped him. Even with all of those talents escaping and leaving no evidence behind would be difficult to accomplish for one man."

"So you think a third party is involved?"

"It's possible since we don't know who else was involved, and I have suspicions that the committee probably had help from the Viceroy himself given the cozy relationship the committee had with Clovis before his demise."

"So the problem is we don't have enough information to work with," Chisa suspected correctly.

"For now yes, but I am going to try and hurry back as soon as possible because I fear the situation will get worst. You remember what I told you when you first reported your findings to me," Munakata asked.

"Yeah I do," Chisa answered feeling uneasy.

The Kamakura Project being exposed wasn't the worst part, although it was likely they would see riots and potential violence from the Reserve Course Students when they find out their expensive tuition to attend Hope's Peak was used to cover these experiments as the worst case scenario from exposure. On the other hand, if this artificial Ultimate Hope was to become hostile, he was just a dangerous weapon of mass destruction that could bring devastation to the world, or if someone with evil intentions used him.

Hope would turn to despair. And it would be a despair that could threaten the entire world, Chisa internally remembered Munakata's warning if such a scenario was to happen.

"For now keep quiet and don't mention anything about our discussion or Kamakura especially with security on high alert."

"I got it," Chisa replied, but she had a feeling things were going to get more complicated somehow.

Later that morning...

Chiaki had, despite the terrible truths she had learned, managed to make her way to school even though she found it hard to look at Hope's Peak Academy the same way again. Izuru had revealed everything about the Hope Cultivation Project; or preferably the Kamakura Project as it was called, including realizing that the process that granted Izuru Kamakura his vast array of talents had destroyed Hajime's personality and mind leading to Izuru Kamakura to being born to take his place.

Much like Lelouch had come to conclude, Chiaki believed this was likely intentional to make an obedient Ultimate Hope. This was the conclusion Chiaki realized, taking everything she learned from Izuru and combined it with scenarios from various science fiction and espionage video games because had Hajime's personality survived he would've been difficult to control especially if he wanted to attend Hope's Peak Academy. Participating as a new Ultimate Hope would've drawn some unwanted attention considering he was in the Reserve Course and his sudden staggering list of talents would've led to the exposure of the project.

I can't imagine a lot of people would've been ok with the academy able to create super geniuses, Chiaki thought.

Taking a deep breath, Chiaki stepped into her classroom as she pushed those thoughts aside for now. She knew drawing attention to herself, especially now that Izuru was staying in her apartment occupying a spare bedroom her apartment had. Chiaki kept as a makeshift guest room that has a bed, but nothing else since it hadn't been used.

"Hey Chiaki are you alright," Mikan timidly inquired.

"Oh," Chiaki said suddenly before answering, "I am fine I just had a rough night."

She wasn't lying, but Chiaki was fine in a physical sense yet emotionally was a different story.

Chiaki didn't know that behind her Nagito was observing her quietly.

Meanwhile, around the same time, Izuru Kamakura was sitting down in Chiaki's living room watching television. He had little else to occupy his time, but he was making a mental list of tools and equipment Izuru thought would be useful to enable him to better observe the outside world and to stay alert of any recovery teams from the academy. Even through Izuru was bored a part of him did prefer the new found freedom he had as he no longer had to deal with the scientists and their tests.

At the same time, he was perplexed by his recent actions surrounding Chiaki Nanami.

Why was I so accommodating to her requests?

Izuru couldn't understand why he felt compelled to stay with the Ultimate Gamer, but also answer her questions. It was confusing, but the fact he couldn't grasp his own motivations in this regard did intrigue him.

Even seeking her out on what appeared to be a whim furthered his interest to observe what other unexpected outcomes might take place.

"In other news," a female newscaster on the television began, "we have reports that authorities have found a hideout belonging to members of Ultimate Despair. Military Forces struck against the town of Hiraizumi located in the Iwate Prefecture."

The scene switched to recorded footage of an old steel mill that had obliviously been the fight of an armed conflict recently with destroyed Knightmare Frames, Glasgow and Sutherlands littering the area.

"Although Monokuma wasn't found authorities are confident that they are gaining ground in their efforts to wipe them out," the newscaster said, but Izuru wasn't convinced.

Part of the reason was that the Steel Mill in question was built before the war when Japan was trying to mass produce weapons and supplies for the looming war with Britannia or the Chinese Federation. Hiraizumi was chosen for the location of one of the new steel mills constructed, although it would be the last of such factories produced by the Kururugi Family before losing everything. After the war, the steel mills were demolished, taken over and repurposed by new owners or abandoned.

The abandoned mills were used as a hideout by terrorists.

Ultimate Despair no doubt established a base there as a recruitment and training area for new members to bolster their numbers, Izuru reasoned logically.

As illogical and chaotic as their motivations and actions were Ultimate Despair wasn't foolish and had gained control of the steel mill because of its remote location. The town itself was of very little importance, so much, so the town was effectively abandoned by the local authorities allowing crime to run rampant in that area coupled with the town left to basically fend for itself. These factors made it even easier for Ultimate Despair to operate in the area until Cornelia started pursuing terrorism more aggressively.

With this in mind, Izuru was hopeful that such a group could bring a potential complication and a level of unpredictability that could be worth observing because Izuru was finding it difficult to comprehend spreading despair as a goal. Yet their actions towards expanding their ranks and hiding who their leaders are were impressive all things considered.

It could be even worthwhile observing a clash between them and the Black Knights, Izuru thought.

If nothing else it could provide a respite from his boredom.

It was about midday in the Britannian Homeland when the Prime Minister of the Empire and its second prince Schneizel el Britannia pushed a button on his desk's intercom signaling his secretary to send in his next appointment that was going to be a special one.

The doors opened automatically as a young woman of seventeen entered. As seemingly common with all of the Emperor's children she was gorgeous with a fair skin complexion, long Spanish pink hair styled into a long ponytail with a red scrunchy and violet eyes. Her choice of attire was an elegant low-cut pink dress with red and black details with gold lining. Her dress included what seems to be white rounded wings attached to the back of her dress with red high-heels.

"I want to congratulate you on regaining your status and title 88th Princess of Britannia," Schneizel complimented before greeting his younger half-siblings. "It's good to see you again Marrybell."

"Likewise brother," Marrybell Mel Britannia greeted with a smile.

After taking her seat opposite of Schneizel before his desk, the two half-siblings quickly began their discussion with the topic being the reason Marrybell was summoned, which she knew was anything but an excuse to spend time with family. She suspected her plans to form a new unit which was a factor in Marrybell being reinstated as a Princess of Britannia following seven years after being stripped of her title following the demise of her mother and younger sister in a terrorist bombing.

Drawing a sword against the Emperor would do that after she confronted him about their deaths and the lack of action against those responsible.

"Not to sound rude brother, but I assume the real reason I am here is about the new unit I have been proposing to build isn't it?"

Schneizel smiled, "right to the point, and yes you are right. This is due to events surrounding Area 11 and Monokuma."

"The leader of Ultimate Despair?"

Schneizel nodded in response, "I don't want to give anyone the wrong impression that I don't have faith in Cornelia to bring Area 11 under control. However, given what drives Monokuma and how disturbingly successful he has been in spreading chaos I feel extra insurance is needed."

"You want my unit to be dispatched to Area 11 to assist Cornelia in dealing with Ultimate Despair, but brother you know I haven't been able to establish it yet."

"Then I ask you Marrybell what do you need?" Schneizel opened a drawer in his desk before bringing out a folder filled with documents. "I can recommend General Johann Schwarzer, a seasoned general from the Britannian Marines and has worked and commanded a variety of Special Forces units whose experience could be useful to you as a commander and someone to help you in establishing an effective combat unit."

Marrybell accepted the file, which was revealed to be Johann Schwarzer's personal record listing all of his achievements and the battles he has been in along with the units he has been part of early in his career and those he commanded later. Marrybell spent several minutes browsing through the file before closing it.

"He does possess an impressive record," Marrybell said as a seasoned veteran and commander would be useful to her given Johann's accomplishments.

"I understand you have two people already in mind, your friend Oldrin Zevon and Marika Soresi?"

"Yes, although I guess Oldrin joining my unit shouldn't be a surprise to you."

Schneizel merely chuckled, "of course, because you two knew have known each other since you were children and the fact you appointed her to be your knight only cemented her position."

Marrybell smiled in response, although she didn't comment further she was grateful that her older half-brother wasn't questioning her choice.

On the other hand, Marrybell knew there was one person Schneizel would ask about.

"However," Schneizel began, "why did you recruit Marika Soresi given the scandal surrounding her older brother?"

Marrybell knew this question was coming, but it was reasonable all considered aside from her youth, and lack of experience is another glaring issue.

"Aside from the," Marrybell said before pausing to chose her next words carefully. "Unfortunate events surrounding the death of her brother Marika has earned top grades at the Area 11 Military Academy, and was considered as a test pilot for the ASEEC's Lancelot until her family had intervened out of fear for her safety because the machine lacked an ejection block."

"That's not the only reason is it?"

"No, it isn't," Marrybell answered, "Leonhardt Steiner the next in line to lead the Steiner Family sought my help when it was revealed that Marika's brother had plotted the death of the former Knight of Ten Luciano Bradley. I despise those who collaborate with terrorists, but taking into account Sir Bradley's background I can understand his motivations and sympathize with him."

Even through Marrybell spoke respectfully her tone indicated she held a very unfavorable opinion of Luciano Bradley, which wasn't that surprising to Schneizel given how violent and confrontational Bradley was which wasn't helped by his taste in subordinates and their attire nor by the fact of how he treated them. Both Marrybell and Schneizel knew this is what probably motivated Kewell to willingly collaborate with the JLF to get Bradley killed for the sake of protecting his sister, who he apparently didn't want Marika becoming another plaything for the Vampire of Britannia.

The fact that only Bradley was answerable only to the Emperor and no one, not even other members of the royal family could reprimand him, probably forced Kewell to take drastic actions.

"I do question why father ever made him a member of the Knight of the Rounds, but at least he is gone, and no one will be shedding tears for his departure from this world."

"Agreed," Marrybell said before moving onto another subject, "but it will take time for us to form a true unit even with you providing personnel and resources."

"I know, but I feel at least we can begin laying the groundwork now," Schneizel answered before explaining. "Another reason I am asking you to head to Area 11 is because Earl Asplund who heads my personal research and development organization in Area 11 can provide you with new machines that I believe will grant you a combative edge against any terrorist organization."

"It seems my own anti-terrorist unit will be off to a good start thanks to you brother," Marrybell said with a smile seeing potential with her elder half-brother aiding her.

"Of course, but I believe your purposed unit will be a great boon to Britannia."

Later that night, back in Japan, inside the small office of a warehouse located on the Tokyo Waterfront was where the Black Knights were gathering for a raid on the primary distribution and production of Refrain in the Tokyo Area. Lelouch was reviewing a small map of the area surrounding the warehouse their target was located in.

They were just after the refrain producers and their distributors in the area, but they had discovered that the former assistant to Sayaka's manager Edward Zolgen was hiding out among the producers seemingly waiting for a chance to flee Area 11.

We have him cornered, Lelouch thought while a devious grin appeared on his face, which was concealed by his mask.

"Right," Lelouch began to address Ohgi, Mukuro, Nagito, and Kallen. "Null and I will handle the men guarding the outside premier. I'll rendezvous with the rest of you once we are finished while Null will locate our target to ensure he doesn't escape."

"Then Kallen will lead the charge in her new Glasgow while we'll follow her in providing support fire," Ohgi added.

"Exactly, we'll finish off anyone else Kallen doesn't eliminate during her initial attack," Lelouch said while casting a glance to Mukuro.

Mukuro was standing silently at attention with a sniper rifle slung over her left shoulder.

"Once we are finished we'll seize any documents we can find to identify other potential targets," Lelouch said concluding their strategy meeting regarding tonight's raid.

With nothing further to say the group concluded the meeting.

Elsewhere at same time at her apartment, Chiaki had finished cooking something for her and Hajime, or rather Izuru even though she internally insisted on calling him Hajime, but upon completing she went to fetch him from his room.

After knocking, she asked, "Uh Hajime, dinner is ready."

There was no response, so Chiaki knocked again.

"Hajime are you there?"

A few more moments of silence, so Chiaki opened the door. Chiaki was stunned to not only discover that Hajime, was thankfully still in his room, but she found the once sparsely furnished room with a desk that had a computer set up. It wasn't just any ordinary store-bought machine, although Chiaki wasn't sure what kind it was she was sure judging by the three flat-screens and the exterior design of the desktop at the base of the desk it would unquestionably put her gaming PC to shame.

I don't remember seeing a computer like that before in any of the electronic stores I frequent, Chiaki thought.

Upon conducting a more thorough survey of the room, Chiaki saw another table that had some tools including a soldering iron and what appeared to be electronic parts scattered neatly organized. Chiaki realized, and correctly assumed, that Hajime must've scavenged the parts for the computers from presumably the ghetto and possibly other locations, like a scrap yard, where such components could be found. It was likely the most logical conclusion since Chiaki couldn't imagine that Hajime could merely walk into a store, even if he somehow had the money, to purchase such a computer since Hope's Peak Academy was no doubt searching high and low for him.

Online ordering was likely out of the question too I suppose, Chiaki reasoned because she suspected that Hajime had no desire to wait for delivery.

"What is it?"

"Dinner is ready," Chiaki answered.

"I see," Izuru answered glancing at the computer screen.

Feeling he had no choice, the new operating system he wrote coupled with the driver software he created would take time to finish installing anyway.

Yet she still insists on calling me Hajime, Izuru thought yet surprisingly he made no attempt to correct her.

Back at the harbor area, the Black Knights minus Zero and Null were gathered, hiding in the shadows of between two neighboring warehouses with the warehouse their target was hiding in was in their line of sight.

Everyone didn't mind the wait, but Kallen noticed something odd.

"Hey Tamaki you seem eager for someone who was complaining a few nights ago about Zero's approach to bringing down Britannia," Kallen asked from atop of her Glasgow.

"Uh," Tamaki began realizing he was in a potentially compromising position.

"It's because he's a huge Sayaka fan," Yoshida answered much to Tamaki's horror.

"WHAT THE HELL!?"

"Come on man what's there to be ashamed of, and I am a fan too?"

Kallen was looking at Tamaki and Yoshida with eyes wide in shock, although Yoshida could be expected to be a Sayaka fan, Tamaki was the last person she would've expected to a fan as well.

"Why does everyone make that face when they find out I am a Sayaka fan?" Tamaki snapped in annoyance.

"Because we didn't think you would be a fan of pop music?" Naomi replied.

"So what!?"

"Calm down Tamaki," Kallen said intervening before things escalated. "I think just about everyone here is a fan of her too."

Tamaki seemed stunned by the news and nods of confirmation from the other Black Knights, including Ohgi, put the most aggressive member of their group at ease.

Thankfully a flashing light in the distance halted further discussion.

"That's the signal!" Ohgi called out upon seeing it.

"Damn those two were quick," Tamaki commented.

Inside the warehouse where various members of the drug ring were working on unboxing their stockpile from wooden crates where they were smuggled into Area 11 having been mixed in with other shipped goods to conceal them even though they had bribed the right custom agents. Hiding inside one of the offices overlooking the floor where members of the drug ring were hard at work was a middle-aged man with wavy blue hair wearing a black business suit with green eyes.

Edward Zolgen nervously watched a news report on a small table-top television, although he was confident he was safe the sooner he could depart Area 11 the better. He avoided using conventional means of escaping Area 11 out of fear he could be intercepted at the airport given how Zero was able to get to the previous Viceroy and escape.

The Black Knights successfully tracking down and dismantling their other operations as well as attacking others involved in any kind of illegal activities only worried him more so.

I'll go to New York and restart there, but for now…

Suddenly the large metal shutters near the assembly line of men working to pack and ready suitcases full of their product to other places around Area 11 was suddenly brought down after a stream of bullets from assault rifles tore through the metal door. Once it fell, the Black Knights led by Tamaki entered aiming their guns at the stunned criminals.

"The Black Knights have arrived!"

With that, they opened fire gunning down most of the drug ring's members while others furthest away from the door managed to take cover while others drew their own weapons. Some wielded pistols while others had rifles of their own, but after a brief shootout, Kallen's new red Glasgow entered the warehouse gunning down those who didn't make a run for it.

As the chaos unfolded, however, Edward ran from the office to quickly escape, he hurried into the back of the warehouse where crates and more brought in by boat were stored. The remaining thugs who weren't gunned down by Kallen were being pursued by the latter in her Knightmare Frame while the others were mopping up anyone she might've missed.

Without slowing down, Kallen smashed right through the closing metal shutters into the rear section of the warehouse. The lights had been switched off, but Kallen merely switched her Knightframe's external cameras over to night vision where she saw an unexpected sight.

Ahead of her were ordinary civilians, Japanese civilians, wearing everyday attire wandering around the warehouse in front of her in a Refrain induced trance, completely lost in their more pleasant memories unaware of the world around them.

It was tragic to watch, to say the least.

Feeling a righteous fury surge through her body, Kallen began searching for the remaining members of the Drug Ring determined to make them pay for spreading such poison among the populace knowing the kind of damage the price of drowning in pleasant memories would ultimately bring.

Are they trying to hide amongst them?

Suddenly a voice drew Kallen's attention.

"Please don't play so rough with your little sister Naoto!"

What?!

Looking down at her left Kallen saw the last person she had expected to see tonight dressed in a white dress shirt with a light green dress and a pink sweat jacket. She had long brown hair tied into a long ponytail with blue eyes. Kallen was stunned upon looking at her realizing there was no mistaking it, it was her mother in a Refrain induced trance.

Upon tripping on something on the ground the older woman nearly fell over and hit her face on the ground, but Kallen quickly grabbed her with the hands of her machine yet mindful of handling her gently.

"Seriously Naoto you need to be more careful, and play nice with Kallen."

Kallen turned her eyes away from the screen in disgust, "my god, how weak of a woman are you? First, you give into Britannia, a man and now this! My brother is gone forever, let him go!"

Suddenly heavy gunfire shot off her machine's right arm prompting Kallen to turn her head to see an LE-E106 Knightpolice, a modified Glasgow for usage by the police department. Its machine pistol had been responsible for destroying the arm of Kallen's Glasgow, but before it could open fire again, the red machine sped off deeper into the warehouse using the towering shelves full of merchandise and crates as shields.

Unfortunately, although Kallen managed to stay ahead of the Knightpolice Unit at first, it was quickly hot on her heels. Even attempting to use the anti-personal gun mounted on the chest of her machine was ineffective against the enemy machine, which the police unit merely shot off with its machine pistol.

Near the broken entrance leading into that section of the warehouse the rest of the Black Knights, minus Null, were gathered with Zero.

"A police unit," Minami said in surprise seeing Kallen's unit engaged in a game of cat and mouse prompting Ohgi to cast an angry glare at Tamaki.

"You were supposed to check if the police were possibility tied to this Tamaki!?"

"Hey," Tamaki replied with his hands up defensively, "when I checked there were no cops involved."

"Corrupted Filth," Zero said not trying to hide his disgust, but he recognized this was a potential problem yet he couldn't understand why Kallen was unable to defeat her foe since her skills would've made such a fight easy.

"Damn it," Kallen's voice echoed through the external speaker of her Knightmare Frame, "I don't want you, I don't need you!"

What?!

Lelouch was confused, but it seemed there was an unforeseen complication that was preventing Kallen from fighting back.

Has Nagito's luck rebounded on me without realizing it?

Regardless of how this situation came about Kallen was in danger, and it only got worse when the Knightpolice unit shot one of the leg motors of the Glasgow causing it fall onto the ground immobilized from the waist down. Thankfully the upper torso of Kallen's machine was well armored enough that the machine pistol of the Knightpolice couldn't pierce it, but it only needed to draw its knife to finish the job by stabbing her cockpit.

Despite the danger, Kallen turned her attention to her mother who didn't suffer any injuries, but she was still in her trance.

"Run," Kallen began yet her mother merely rose up to her knees to look up at Kallen's Glasgow completely unaware of the danger her daughter was in. "RUN YOU IDIOT, GET MOVING!"

"I am here for you Kallen."

"Huh?!"

"I am here for you like I have always have been?"

Kallen was stunned as the realization hit her.

"Is that why you stayed in his house? You stayed there for me?" Kallen said as a wave of regret flooded her mind as she had always been rude and dismissive of her biological mother. Her mistakes and the accidents she had while serving as a maid in the Stadtfeld Mansion earned her the ridicule of her stepmother and further scorn from Kallen. "YOU FOOL!"

Despite this Kallen quickly blocked the Knightpolice Unit from stabbing her cockpit with its knife in time using her machine's only working limb, the left arm.

"Or maybe I am the fool!"

Quickly using her slash harkens, Kallen managed to catch the Knightpolice Unit while her anchors embedded themselves into a wall under a metal shelf on the far side of the room. The metal shelf was thick and sturdy enough to withstand the impact of the Knightpolice's cockpit being smashed upon contact killing the pilot while Kallen's cockpit block was undamaged sliding into the empty shelf below where crates would've customarily been stacked.

"KALLEN!" Ohgi cried out as everyone, except Zero and Nagito, hurried to the wrecked Glasgow to help Kallen.

"I'm so happy for you. You can finally become a Britannian now, Kallen. Nobody will ever be able to hurt you now, darling. And you're free to travel and use the phone any time you want." Kallen's mother said to herself, still unaware of what had been happening around her, while Lelouch and Nagito observed.

"So this is Kallen's mother," Nagito said stating the obvious.

"I think her name was Yuri Kozuki," Null said approaching the two with a bound and gagged Edward in her custody. "I had looked into the members of Ohgi's group before Zero, and I approached them as a precaution. Legally she was known as Kallen Stadtfeld, but was born Kallen Kozuki to Lord Stadtfeld's lover Yuri, and was adopted when his new wife couldn't bear children."

"I remember that bit from Monokuma's first Killing Game, so the mother lived in the house as a maid to be with her daughter," Nagito commented piecing together the rest.

"The abuse and mistreatment she must have received from the other maids and Kallen's stepmother must have pushed her into Refrain as a means of coping," Lelouch noted. Although he was curious how Mukuro knew that when he didn't really do much of a background check on Ohgi and the others besides what Lelouch learned from Kallen while under his Geass.

Was it something Junko asked her to do?

Pushing the thought aside for now until later Lelouch decided to address the matter before him as the Black Knights still had a job to do, and while Ohgi and the others were busy with Kallen he gestured to Mukuro silently to hold the tied up Edward in a way that would give him a clear view of his eyes.

"Nagito, ask Ohgi to help you with Miss Kozuki while I wrap up things here."

"Sure thing," Nagito replied while Kallen could be heard running to her mother.

"Now you are going to answer all of my questions," Lelouch asked activating his Geass as the slide over his left eye moved to reveal it upon turning his attention to Mr. Zolgen.

Lelouch felt there was potentially some useful information he could squeeze out of him first before giving him what he deserves.

Around the same time in another corner of Area 11, the Warriors of Hope were spearheading an attack on a Britannian Military base near the town of Takahama located along the coast of the Ōi District of the Fukui Prefecture. They were piloting the same machines as they were in Shinjuku Ghetto, but following some improvements and tune-ups using the combat data from their engagements with the Lancelot the child pilots behind the machines were making short work of the base's defenders.

This was complicated by the fact that the Warriors of Hope were being aided by mass-produced Knightmare Frames created for Ultimate Despair. If the Burai used by the JLF were considered modified knockoffs of the Glasgow, so the UDK-01M Onikuma was modeled after the Sutherland. However, unlike the Burai, which besides some cosmetic differences was only upgraded with small shield-like bracers on the hands that allow the Burai to better defend against direct melee attacks, the Onikuma included performance upgrades and replaced the forearm equipped stun-tonfa with unfoldable blades that could be extended to act as formidable melee weapons.

Its performance put it firmly on par with the RPI-209 Gloucester, which used its own set of weapons but it could make use of the same weapons other Knightmare Frames could use. Its standard armaments included a mounted anti-personnel gun upon its chest, the blades within its forearms, chaos mines on its waist and lastly each one had a Sakuradite bomb to be used in suicide attacks if the unit was crippled or if the pilot was killed.

Its optional armaments included a halberd with curved blades for gutting an enemy Knightmare Frame, an assault rifle with a flamethrower attachment, and a long-range anti-Knightmare Frame sniper rifle.

"Wow watch those hangers and people burn," Jataro said with demented glee as he had just bombed those hangers with a barrage of missiles.

Suddenly Kotoko, in her ax-wielding Knightmare Frame, cleaved a Sutherland in half that had been aiming its rifle at Jataro's machine.

"Instead of watching demons burn you should focus on the ones trying to kill you," Kotoko scolded.

"Both of you should hurry because we don't have long before reinforcements are dispatched," Nagisa interrupted scolding both of his fellow warriors.

Unlike his fellow Warriors of Hope, Nagisa was using the sniper rifle of his own personal Knightmare Frame to shoot down the fighter jets and VTOL gunships that had either gotten into the air during the attack or had arrived from another base to help them.

Regardless they were swiftly shot down before they could attack Nagisa's friends having effectively covered the skies.

Masaru, in his newly constructed The Type-H011 Gloucester Drill Offensive Prototype, a more lightly armored yet faster version of his previous machine that was more focused on speed and high offensive power at the cost of less armor. Distinctly bitter over his defeat at the hands of the Lancelot, Masaru savagely tore into the demons and their Sutherlands. He wasn't really acting akin to a berserker, but it was clear that his fighting style had become more savage and ruthless as a silent oath to never suffer another defeat.

To him, as the hero, the hero always wins.

"I'll never lose again, I am the leader and the hero, and I'll tear that white demon apart next time," Masaru said to himself as he impaled a Sutherland cockpit with one of his machine's drills.

Watching the destruction of the base with a pleased smile and a large sundae next to her was Monaca observing the battle through the dozen monitors set up before her. Monaca's new mass production model Knightmare Frames were performing well during their first combat debut. Watching the attack on the base through Monokuma, who was standing behind her, was Junko Enoshima who was inside the control room below Ashford Academy.

"How wonderful those new Onikuma units are performing better than you told me they would, and I love how they share my likeness," Monokuma said with a charming smile while being cute at the same time.

"I am happy you love them, Big Sis," Monaca began before quickly correcting herself, "I mean Mr. Monokuma."

"No worries, but I am looking forward to how Cornelia is going to react just when the news stations announced what was supposed to be a meaningful victory," Monokuma commented before he burst out laughing, "Upupupu!"

"By the way, thanks to Lady Sumeragi supporting me those old goats will be giving Zero the Guren Mk-II," Monaca reported with a smile.

"Oh, that's good news."

"And I managed to squeeze in the Black Knights getting a few Burai units and one of the Guren Type-01," Monaca revealed.

The Guren-Mk II was the crown jewel and the achievement of Kyoto House as being the first true Japanese Knightmare Frame, but before it was the Guren Type-01 which served as the base from which the Guren-Mk II was built from. Unlike the Guren-Mk II, however, there were several units of the Guren Type-01 that was used for various field tests with the resulting combat data was used to develop the Guren-Mk II.

"Very nice, good job Monaca. I bet those old farts were pissed weren't they?"

"Only the more stubborn of the lot were," Monaca replied with a dismissive hand gesture, "but as I said, Lady Sumeragi siding with me made the difference."

"Very good," Monokuma said before realizing something, "I got to go Monaca, but have the Warriors of Hope finish up and then get out of there before Cornelia, and her troops come flying in."

"Sure thing!"

With that Junko Enoshima switched control from the Monokuma that had been present with Monaca to another Monokuma in another corner of the world, which wasn't anywhere in Japan but in Britannia. Her night had been surprisingly quite busy, but she had so many plans and so much left to do before everything was just right for the next Killing Game.

Activating the Monokuma, Junko was prepared to speak to one of her oldest and first allies who became a founder of Ultimate Despair shortly after her father introduced him to her. Junko's father had previously hired him to track down Junko and Mukuro for him, but in time he became, her ally and thanks to her father became a spy for her after he was adopted by a well-connected Britannian noble family.

Across the world, in a very spacious and sizable mansion near Pendragon, the Monokuma activated as its red eye lit up. It was sitting before a white table where tea and snacks had been prepared, and sitting across from Monokuma was his host and spy within Britannia. Shockingly he wasn't a pure-blooded Britannia, but a Japanese man with Honorary Status. He was in his early twenties with long light indigo hair tied into a ponytail and green eyes wearing a crisp white suit trimmed with gold and red.

The two weren't alone, because standing at attention by the door leading into the small reception room was a young woman, a Britannian, with orange hair and purple eyes dressed in a purple and gold trimmed uniform with a sword dangling from the sheath on her hip.

"Its been while Knight of Ten," Monokuma said addressing the man who was appointed as the new Knight of Ten, and had quickly become much more likable than the last one who held the title.

"It was thanks to you Monokuma I replaced that fool Bradley," Shin Hyuga Shaing replied raising a cup of tea in a toast before drinking it.

"It was your information that helped me nab the vampire and ultimately bring about his death. No one ever figured out that you had provided me with the info to learn about his mission, which I then made sure certain people found out about it," Monokuma replied while Junko was smiling deviously behind the controls.

Shin Hyuga Shaing, was the sole survivor after his entire family had been killed in a mass murder-suicide according to what Junko knew and was hired by her father to find Mukuro and herself after Japan became Area 11. Shin was working odd jobs including some questionable ones, but after being reunited with her father, Shin was adopted into the Shaing Noble Family through the connections Junko's father possessed. However Shin loyal to Junko and her father was intended to become a spy, but like Lelouch, the young woman noticed he was filled with despair.

After some probing Junko found someone who wanted to see the world in chaos and was among those who would become a founder of Ultimate Despair and Junko's inside man within the Britannian Military. Despite having faced considerable prejudice, a combination of his combat skills and tactical prowess along with the connections of his new adoptive mother and Junko's father assured his rise through the ranks.

Strangely enough, it seems those who impeded Shin's rise through the ranks had seemingly met an untimely end through unusual circumstances.

Now that I think about it, could he have something similar to what Lelouch has? Considering some of the strange happenings and that murder-suicide his family was part of?

Junko shoved that thought aside from now, but the aim was always to install him among the Knights of the Round, but the one member who would become a problem was the current Knight of Ten, the Vampire of Britannia. Bradley's mission to Area 11 and the fact he had taken a fancy to Marika Soresi who had a brother who was a high ranking member of the Purist Faction provided an opportunity to eliminate him while placing the blame for events that led to his demise on someone else.

Most importantly it cleared the way for Shin to ascend into the ranks of the Knights of the Round.

"Indeed and it seems your actions have gathered more attention," Shin began with a twisted smile, "I have some information you might be interested in."

"I am all ears," Monokuma replied.

Monokuma Theater: (Bachelor Edition Killing Game Part 4)

A few days after Celeste got to walk away following her successful murder everyone was on edge and with the knowledge that someone could die coupled with Celeste's actions left everyone very cautious around one another. Sayaka and Seiko were among the most fearful and had spent most of their time in their rooms coming out only when they needed food and nothing else.

Natsumi didn't seem affected much by these events, and neither did Kirumi yet both had their own way of expressing it.

Everyone else tried to carry on as usual, but it was clear that it was impossible for everyone to trust one another.

"Now let's see if we can't heighten the paranoia and distrust a little with an old classic," Junko said entering in commands into the simulator.

Suddenly Monokuma appeared inside the gym summoning everyone for a special announcement. It didn't take long, although there were some stragglers. Regardless of the order or haste, they came everyone filed into the gym for Monokuma's announcement as he stood upon the stage.

"Good morning everyone, I got presents for all of you since I am so happy with the murder we had a couple days ago."

Monokuma's good mood faded.

"But I am beginning to get bored so its time for me to provide some motivation to ensure we get our next murder soon."

"NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO KILL ONE ANOTHER!" Kotomi snapped defiantly.

"Oh please like we haven't heard that line before," Monokuma mocked with a dismissive gesture.

"We're serious," Mahiru said joining Kotomi in defying Monokuma, "no one will be pushed into killing one another."

"Hold that thought," Monokuma said before using a remote to summon an electronic cart driven by remote that brought a tray filled with envelopes holding a compact disc marked. "You'll find there is a disc for each of you and I encourage you to view their contents using the media lab down the hall from the gym."

"What kind of fucking game are you playing at now!" Natsumi shouted.

Monokuma merely laughed, "If you want details then I want to see a successful murder where a killer gets away with it. The rest is pretty self-explanatory."

With those words, Monokuma vanished while Junko was left wondering who would crack first and murder someone.

A/N: All things considered Shin Hyuga Shaing would fit right in with Ultimate Despair given his goals and mental state seen in Code Geass Aikto of the Exile. Furthermore, we don't really know for sure how he got where he was after events surrounding him and his brother, and given the trouble, Suzaku had in the Britannian Military I don't see how Shin could've gotten where he was without some substantial help. Hence my decision to make him a member of Ultimate Despair and a follower of Junko and his introduction now was done in preparation for when he becomes more active in the story especially if the story shifts to the EU.

The same thing for Marrybell Mel Britannia from Code Geass Oz of the Reflection, and she'll be more involved with her anti-terrorist organization getting something of an early startup because of Monokuma, but its part of a larger plan I have in mind.

I hope my flashback scene involving Hajime and Chiaki worked out, and I did throw in some light-hearted teasing and I wasn't trying to be mean to her of course. Afterall given the teasing I have done to other characters it was only fair Chiaki gets a little too.

The man who had done so many horrible things to Sayaka's friends have finally been dealt with, which is likely to cause some reactions later on following that.

As that is happening the Warriors of Hope return attacking a military base while testing out Ultimate Despair's new limited edition mass-produced Knightmare Frames the Onikuma, which I named for the demon bears that steal horses which I felt worked better than the original machine name I had in mind. Perhaps I might name future UD machines after something associated with bears in myths or something like that.

As for those hoping for some Mukuro and Lelouch moments, I'll have something for you guys soon, especially as we inch closer to Narita.

Just be patient, all good things come in good time. Of course, there is the matter of Junko, so something to remember.

Thank you in advance for your reviews, and I'll see about getting another chapter out soon.