Early the next day in Shinjuku, Gino arrives at the Kozuki residence. He knocks on the door and is met by Mrs. Kozuki.
"Gino, what brings you here this early?" Mrs. Kozuki asks.
"I came to see Kallen. May I come in?" Gino says.
"Right this way. I really hope you and Kallen are right for each other." She says as she leads Gino inside.
"Mrs. Kozuki, she really shows no interest in me." He says.
"She plays hard to get. She has Naoto looking over her shoulders, and he cared for her dearly." She says. "Kallen is upstairs." She adds.
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you." Gino says. He then heads upstairs to Kallen's room. When he gets to her door, he knocks.
"Just a minute." Kallen says from behind the door. She opens the door, and wipes sweat from her brow. "Gino, what are you doing here?" She asks, upon seeing him.
"I figured that we should keep an eye on Lelouch, like Zero said." Gino replies. "What's on your mind, Kallen?" Gino asks, when he sees Kallen's expression change.
"Nothing. Just thinking about what happened the other day. Have you seen Rakshata's new project?" She says.
"No, I haven't. May as well check on that when we observe Lelouch. What is it that she is working on now?" Gino replies.
"A new knightmare frame. She and Lloyd are working together on it." She replies.
"How in the world did that happen. I thought they would kill each other before that happened." Gino says. "And here I thought their marriage was a joke." He says, laughing a little.. "Well, let's go." He adds.
"Now? It is rather early." Kallen says.
"Villetta said that Lelouch only has one class. It would be better to be early, than to have him catch us." Gino says.
"Alright, let's go, Gino." Kallen says. They then head down stairs, and see Kallen's mother with Naoto Ohgi. "I'll see you later, mom." She says with a smile, as she sees young Naoto.
"Don't forget to get something to eat." Kallen's mother says, before Kallen and Gino head out the door. Kallen and Gino leave and head for the academy in Tokyo.
"Kallen, what are your feelings towards me? I know I surprised you when I joined the Black Knights, to defeat Lelouch and Suzaku." Gino asks.
"Personally, I think you are not like most Britannians. I like you Gino, I think you are an excellent combatant. I would like to keep an open mind about the situation." Kallen replies.
"That's better than a no." Gino says. They then continue their trek in silence. When they reach the academy, they see a lot of commotion around the lab. "Is this part of their project?" Gino asks.
"I should think so. Let's go in and get some information on Lelouch." Kallen replies.
In the lab, Rakshata and Lloyd have finished the resonator. "Now all we have to do is test it." Rakshata says.
"I guess we can. Let's just hope that it does not explode." Lloyd replies. Rakshata hooks up the resonator, and is about to activate it when Cecile enters the workshop.
"Rakshata, there is someone looking for you." Cecile says.
"Really? What is it that they want?" Rakshata asks. "Oh, I'll be there right away." She adds, realizing what day it is. Cecile heads over to Lloyd.
"What's going to happen when we turn it on?" She asks.
"Either it blows up, or knocks out the power to the surrounding area." Lloyd replies.
"Could we use gefjun disturbers to counteract the resonator?" She asks.
"We could get Nina to test it. Where is she?" Lloyd asks.
"She went to Euphemia's memorial. She'll be back later." Cecile replies.
"Simulations are not my strong suit, but I'll give it a try." Lloyd says. He then goes over to one of the computers and sets up a simulation. Rakshata returns to the workshop.
"Oh good, you did not start it without me. The parts that I ordered will be arriving soon." She says.
"That's good. Now we need to safely test the resonator, then we can start work on the float system." Lloyd says.
"It should be safe to test anyways, Earl of Pudding." Rakshata replies.
"What he means is that the resonators may be safe, but it still poses a threat to the sakuradite powering the city." Cecile says.
"I take it that you are simulating gefjun disturbers to neutralize the resonator's frequency?" She asks.
"You got it." Lloyd says.
"It's handy that we have some." Rakshata says. She then goes and gathers some disturbers, and places them around the resonator.
She is about to activate the configuration. "Rakshata, we should wait for Nina. She would like to be present for this, since she has a major contribution to its creation." Cecile says.
"Fine, we'll wait. In the meantime, let's prepare to assemble the rest of Merlin. The radiant wave surgers are soon to arrive, as well as some components that you may not have thought of." Rakshata says. They then assemble their teams and work on the float system begins. Shortly after the work begins, the parts Rakshata ordered arrive at the academy. She and a small team go and take the parts to the workshop, and work on placing the wave surgers onto the knightmare.
Kallen and Gino enter the academy and walk around, exploring the building until they see Lelouch exit a room. "You follow him, I'll check out the room he came out of." Gino says to Kallen.
Kallen goes after Lelouch, as Gino enters Lelouch's room. Upon entering the room Gino finds C.C. "Why are you here, C.C.?" Gino asks.
"Where else would I be?" She asks.
"Good point." Gino says. He then look through Lelouch's room, until he finds a suitcase under the bed.
"May I ask what you are doing here, Gino?" C.C. asks.
"If I tell you, you might tell Lelouch. So I will keep that information to myself." He replies. He opens the suitcase and is shocked to see a white and gold Zero mask. "Why would he have this?" He says, picking up the mask.
"If I tell you, you'll tell Zero. So I rather keep the information to myself." C.C. replies.
Gino takes out the cape. "Why white? That doesn't seem like Lelouch." He says. He then puts the cape on, and searches the rest of the room.
Kallen follows Lelouch, until he enters his classroom. "What to teach today?" Lelouch says to himself. "I could contact Kallen and have her discuss her view on the battle of Shinjuku." He adds. He then goes to the center desk and takes a seat, and starts to set up his chess board. "The door is open." Lelouch calls out. Kallen enters the room.
"How did you know I was here?" Kallen asks.
"You seek information. You want to know if I used my geass on you and the rest of the Black Knights." Lelouch responds.
"That, and I want to know why you had Zero show his face to me?" Kallen says.
"Kallen, you are the only Black Knight I used my geass on." Lelouch says.
"What did you make me do?" She says, angrily.
"I just needed to know if it really was you I saw in Shinjuku, three years ago. I also tried to make you forget about Shinjuku, but I could only use my power once on a person." He responds. Kallen then slaps Lelouch across the face.
"You were there, in the truck? How… When did you get in there?"Kallen asks.
"When you swerved off of the road. I went to check if you were alright, but got caught in the trailer when the truck suddenly started to move." He answers.
"Now about Zero." She says.
"You could use his real name, you know. Well, I guess this is a public place, and that would not be good if someone else found out Zero's true identity. Anyways, I had Zero show you his face because you were the only Black Knight to know I was Zero." Lelouch says.
"And you expect me to keep that a secret?" Kallen asks.
"Yes, I do. You never told anyone Zero's identity before, so I expect you to do the same now." He replies. The door then opens as Lelouch's class starts the enter.
"What is Lelouch's plan?" Gino asks C.C., as he finds the Julius Kingsley outfit.
"He wishes to keep an eye on Zero. I kept an eye on Lelouch when he was Zero." C.C. replies.
"Right, but how is he going to do that if he is a teacher? So many disguises, yet…" Gino starts, until he finds green and red gems. "This is his emperor's robes. He doesn't plan to usurp Nunnally now, does he?" Gino asks, pulling out the outfit.
"I am not all to sure as to why he kept them. As much as he seeks the future, he sure is stuck in the past." C.C. replies.
"Maybe he wants to atone for all the things he has done. This looks new though." Gino says inspecting the outfit. "No stitches, and no blood stain."
"Alright class. Let's begin with some chess matches. Who wants to try their hand against me?" Lelouch asks the class. Kallen takes a seat near Lelouch's computer, and watches the chess games on the projector. "I have no set lesson plan for this class, other than to discuss the Black Rebellion, I've decided to have veterans of the rebellion speak about their experiences. Today we have Ace Kallen Kozuki, and she will be discussing her point of view of the battle of Shinjuku. Kallen, if you may." Lelouch says.
Kallen gets up and tells the class about her involvement in the battle of Shinjuku. The class listens intently as she goes on, telling about their heist of the "poison gas" and how Zero was accidentally caught up in all of this. When she talks about the cease fire, the power fluctuates and then there is a sound of music in the air. Everyone is surprised, even Lelouch.
"Lelouch, what is that sound?" Kallen asks.
"I don't know. I've never heard anything like it before. Although, I have a good idea where it might be coming from. Come on Kallen, let's check it out." Lelouch says. He and Kallen leave the classroom, and head for the lab. On their way they bump into Gino leaving Lelouch's room.
Gino is putting everything he found back into its original place, or as close to it as possible. "Don't worry, I won't tell Lelouch." C.C. says.
"Thanks, C.C." Gino says, folding the cape and putting it and the mask back into the suitcase, and sliding it under the bed. As he is about to leave the room, the power fluctuates and then there is a sound of music in the air. "What was that?" He asks.
"Not sure. Never heard anything like it before." C.C. replies. Gino then leaves the room. He panics when he sees Lelouch and Kallen heading his way.
"Gino, what are you doing here?" Lelouch asks.
"I was going to check on that sound. You heard it as well?" He says.
"Of course, Gino. Lelouch is leading the way." Kallen says. Gino follows Kallen and Lelouch until they reach the lab. At the lab they see many of the professors, the headmistress, and even Zero.
Nina returns from her trip to Fuji. She sees trucks leaving the lab, as well as Rakshata taking in the last of the parts. "Rakshata, what happened here?" She asks her.
"Oh, Nina, you're back. The parts I ordered have arrived, and we are about to test the resonator. Cecile wanted you to be here when we tested it." Rakshata replies.
"Thank you for waiting, professor." Nina replies. She and Rakshata enter the lab and head for the workshop. Rakshata then goes and organizes the remaining parts until she goes over to the resonator.
"Now we can test this thing of beauty." Rakshata says. The crews working on the float system, and the shield generators stop their work and watch the resonator. "Lloyd, I want you to activate the resonator as I activate the gefjun disturbers." She says to Lloyd.
"You don't have them hooked up so you can activate them simultaneously?" He asks her.
"I do not want the resonator to affect the disturbers, if they were hooked up. Now on the count of three, we activate them." She replies.
"Understood." He says.
"One… Two… Three!" She counts. They activate the configuration and the power fluctuates as the disturbers are activated, but the resonator counters the disturbers and the power stays on. "That is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard." Rakshata says, as she hears the resonators frequency.
"Let's just hope we did not create the world's most dangerous musical instrument." Lloyd says.
"Turn it off! The disturbers are not affecting the resonator all the way!" Nina says. As she hears the frequencies of the disturbers and the resonator.
"What's the matter, Nina?" Rakshata asks, as she and Lloyd shut down the configuration.
"Can't you hear it? The resonator's frequency is not entirely masked by the disturbers." Nina says.
"If that's the case, then was this a failure?" Cecile asks.
"No, not at all. It just shows that the resonator is not exactly like the disturbers. I wanted to create this thing for some time now, but everyone said that it was impossible. Look what we have here. We have a working pure sakuradite resonator." Rakshata replies. Then they hear someone knocking on the door to the workshop.
"Lloyd, Rakshata open up at once!" Villetta says.
In the embassy conference room, Cornelia and Schneizel are discussing what to do, now that Nunnally is now at Ashford. "Brother, what do we tell the people, both here and in the homeland?" Cornelia asks Schneizel.
"Cornelia, dear sister, we tell them that she has returned to the homeland." He replies.
"Yes brother, but what about Zero? Everyone will be wondering why he is not by her side. Then there is the matter of her chair. Although word may have gotten out, the people back home don't know." She says.
"I see you have thought this through, Cornelia." He replies.
"At least I treat her like my sister! You are just Zero's lap dog!" She snaps. Zero then enters the room. "Zero, any word from Nunnally?" She asks.
"Not at the moment. I think she will contact me in the near future. Now what was it you wanted to discuss with me?" Zero replies.
"I'll let you two discuss this matter. It seems that my advice is not needed here." Schneizel says. He then departs from the room.
"What's gotten into him?" Zero asks Cornelia.
"I'm not sure. He has not been the same since Lelouch took control of Damocles. What did Lelouch do to him?" Cornelia says.
"He ordered him to obey Zero." Zero replies.
"Zero… Uh Suz…" Cornelia starts.
"Do not use my name here. Zero will suffice." Zero says.
"Right, sorry Zero. The matter we were discussing is that of Nunnally. What do we tell the people if they find out that she is not here in the embassy?" She asks.
"I'm certain that Schneizel said to tell them that she returned to Britannia." Zero says.
"Correct. But there is still the matter of her chair, and you." Cornelia says.
"Send her chair back to Britannia, for if anyone finds out she is not here, they will not find her chair. Now about me. I still have important business here, so I cannot be by her side. Just say that Nunnally has returned to Britannia, and I will be with her in the near future." Zero says. He then puts his hand on his mask. "I am not like Lelouch, I can't be several steps ahead." He says.
"Zero, you are better than Lelouch ever was. He sought justice with chaos, you seek justice without chaos." Cornelia says, reassuring Zero.
"That may be so, but we are both doing this for one reason. To keep Nunnally safe." Zero says. The power to the embassy goes out, and a musical sound can be heard. "What is that sound?" He asks.
"Nevermind that, the power is out." Cornelia says.
"I think I know the source of this, I'll be back." Zero says, leaving the room. He then leaves the embassy and rushes over to the academy, where a large group of the professors have gathered. He sees Villetta going to the door of the lab.
"Zero, what brings you here?" Lelouch says.
"Lloyd and Rakshata must have the resonator working, am I correct?" Zero asks.
"I wouldn't know. Let's go in and see, shall we." Lelouch says. The four of them go into the lab with Villetta. She then knocks on the door of the workshop.
"Lloyd, Rakshata open up at once!" Villetta says. Cecile opens the door, and they enter the workshop. All five of them are awestruck when they lay eyes on the Merlin.
"This is their project? It's enormous!" Gino says.
"I'm glad that you like it." Rakshata says. She then gasps as Villetta grabs her by the collar, and drops her pipe.
"Rakshata Asplund, what is the meaning of this?" Villetta says, angrily.
"What do you mean? The knightmare, or the resonator?" She responds. Villetta stares at her, angrily. "These are all things I wanted to create. The knightmare, to see if two pilots can control the same machine, and the resonator to make an idea real. I see this is not helping. Lloyd turn off the resonator." Rakshata says. Lloyd turn off the disturbers and the resonator.
"If my husband gets word of this, the two of you…" Villetta starts.
"Villetta, all four of us are responsible for the creation of these. But before you tell Prime Minister Ohgi, Ambassador Schneizel is supporting this project." Cecile says.
"Of course he would. Fine, I'll ask Ohgi to speak with the ambassador about this." Villetta says. She then leaves the workshop.
"That was uncalled for." Rakshata says, brushing herself off and picking up her pipe.
"This is what you wanted me to pilot with Zero?" Kallen asks, as she inspects the Merlin.
"Kallen you can't let the Guren, our most powerful knightmare, be decommissioned." Gino says.
"Sir Weinberg, we have the second pilot picked out, but that information is classified until we have it running and fully operational." Lloyd says. "If progress continues as it is, then we should be able to test it later tonight or early tomorrow. It all depends on our pilots schedules." He adds.
"So, Lelouch, what do you think of this knightmare? It's not like the Shinkiro." Gino says.
"This thing is most definitely not like any knightmare known to the world. Why do you ask?" Lelouch says, as he is inspecting the Merlin.
"I just have a feeling that I know who the other pilot is for this knightmare?" He replies.
Lelouch then looks into Gino's eyes. "Don't make me pry the information from you." He says. Gino then hides his eyes from Lelouch. Lelouch then laughs. "I don't have geass anymore, but I guess that my secret is out then. You know something that you think the others here do not know, correct?" Lelouch asks Gino.
"What are you getting at, Lelouch?" Gino asks.
"It's the fact that you know that I'm Zero." Lelouch replies.
"There is no way you are Zero. Although I have never seen Zero's face, how can you and Zero be in the same room?" Gino says.
"Zero and I are two different sides of the same person. Therefore, I am Zero." Lelouch says. "Lloyd, when is the test for Merlin to begin?" He asks Lloyd.
"The earliest we test it is late tonight." He responds.
"Good, I'll be here to watch the test. Now I have a class to return to." Lelouch says. He then leaves the workshop.
"What did he mean by that? Do you know something that I just found out?" Gino asks Zero and Kallen.
Zero heads over to the float system and watches its construction. "What Lelouch said is true. He is Zero. But if you found out now, then you know that he is the white Zero." Zero says.
"Now there are six Zeros. The Four Aces of Zero all have a Zero outfit, then there's you, Zero, now Lelouch is also a Zero look a like." Gino says.
"Gino, Lelouch was Zero." Kallen says indicating Zero. "Now he's different, a white knight." She adds.
"That explains his outfit. A white Black Knights uniform. And what was with the glove on his right hand?" Gino says.
"Now that you mention it, he did only have on one glove. I don't think it's too important to worry about." Kallen says.
"You may be right about that. But we do need to worry about him usurping Nunnally." Gino says. Zero then looks up at Gino.
"Explain your reasoning behind this, Gino." Zero says.
"I found his emperor's robes in his quarters. Call me crazy, but I think he plans to usurp Nunnally." Gino says.
"But Zero, Lelouch said he had no interest in reclaiming the throne." Kallen says.
"He did, but he is notorious for lying. I do have to give him credit though, he has been telling the truth recently. The war he warned me about might just happen." Zero says.
"War, what war?" Kallen and Gino say surprised.
Suzaku activates his geass and removes his mask. "This war, if it happens, will be a war of geass. As you know, my geass renders me invisible, therefore most geass will not work on me. I never intended for my power to be used this way." Zero says.
"Zero, we'll help you. We are your Aces after all." Kallen says.
"Yeah. But I do find it rather discomforting knowing that you can see us, while we cannot see you." Gino says.
"Gino!" Kallen says in disgust.
"What. You have to admit that it's true." Gino retorts. "Now, Zero, stop hiding behind geass and reveal yourself."
"I am sorry Gino, I cannot show my face to anyone, for that was the geass I accepted when I became Zero. The idea behind Zero lives on through me, and whoever takes up the mantle of Zero." Zero says. He then places his mask back on, and deactivates his geass. "I take it that the two of you will be here when Merlin is to be tested?" He asks.
"I would like to see this knightmare in action. Afterall, I was to be one of the pilots." Kallen says.
"This knightmare looks easy to beat. The radiant wave surgers are nothing like the Guren's. Besides it is so heavy that it would have trouble turning." Gino says inspecting the Merlin.
"That's what the hadron float system is for." Rakshata says.
"Did you just say hadron float system?" Gino asks.
"Yes, I did. It is to be powerful enough to make this fly and be maneuverable enough in the air. Although nothing compares to the energy wings of the Guren or the Albion. Now if only I could get the energy blades to work." Rakshata says, the last bit to herself.
"We'll let you get back to your work." Zero says.
"Thank you, Zero. Now keep Nunnally safe." Nina says.
"She is on her way to Pendragon. She should be safe there." Zero says. Zero, Kallen, and Gino leave the lab.
"Zero, why are you not going with Nunnally?" Kallen asks.
"I have some business here that still needs my attention." Zero says. He then leaves for the embassy.
"He seems so distant. What do you think Kallen?" Gino says.
"He isn't the Zero I knew, but he keeps some of the same attitudes. Although he is stern, I think he just needs to accept who he is, not what he was." Kallen responds.
"That may be true. Now, we have a lot of time to kill before we have to be back here to watch the test of Merlin. So, do you want to…" Gino says.
"If you are asking me out on a date, then no. But there is plenty of time before the test. Come on, Gino." Kallen says, as she leaves the academy. Gino follows her.
