A/N: Thank you for the reviews guys and sorry I was a little late in posting this chapter although it has been ready for well over a week. Thanks for the input as well, I did go back and modify chapter 2 a bit so hopefully it's a little better than what it was. Also a mention in this chapter will also correct some things that happened in chapter 2 which will show that Lindy purposely provoked Lelouch to see his real character knowing he can at times wear more than one mask. Although grammar and spelling is a problem for me, but I will keep trying to improve until I get it right.

Chapter 3

Chaos Spreads

A few days later the Arthra was arriving on the planet of Mid-Childa, more specifically it was heading for Cranagan which was not only the capital of Mid-Childa it was also where the TSAB Mid-Childan Main Office was located. As the ship was making final preparations to dock and off load its prisoners two members of the ship's crew were inside the cafeteria having a discussion regarding one of the prisoners they had onboard.

"Scary don't you think? Who would have thought we have the infamous Zero here onboard this ship?"

"I still say the captain made a rash decision to save him, he'll be a liability. What if he uses that Geass of his to turn us into his mindless slaves? Remember what he did to those Britannian soldiers? He ordered them to kill themselves," Another crew member asked.

"Apparently he's the childhood friend the three aces. I overheard them talking about it in the meeting room before we touchdown on that planet."

"The higher-ups are going love this. If that Regius guy," The first crewmember began, but was interrupted.

"Have some respect for your superior officer will you?"

"You don't know him like I do. I worked under him once; I transfer out of the ground forces after I passed examinations for Dimensional navy."

"I thought we're talking about that Lelouch guy?"

"We are, but I'm comparing him and Regius. If the Earth kid isn't enrolled in TSAB, Regius will love this kid. He could make the ground forces look like a force to be reckoned with."

"Oh come on why do you look down on ground forces?"

"After working for Dimensional Navy for a decade; yeah I think this is better than the ground forces."

"Well what about those things the Britannians and the Black Knights use; those knightmare frames right?"

"When you put it that way, heh we would be seeing mass weapons galore."

Inside her cabin Nanoha woke up feeling depressed as she was worried for Lelouch on what the Bureau would ultimately do with him. She reviewed all of the intelligence reports gathered on Lelouch and among them she remembered the incident at the Tokyo Bay which happened after Narita. Seeing the footage of that battle next to what happened in Narita was very difficult for Nanoha to watch.

"He wouldn't..." The young woman said as she recalled watching the footage as Nanoha's eyes widened when they saw the ship that was carrying JLF soldiers and the leader of the organization was blown to smithereens due to the Sakuradite bomb that was implanted by Lelouch in the water below the ship; sending debris and scraps all over the place after the explosion set of the liquid Sakuradite onboard. In fact, the explosion took out several RMI-13 Portman knightmare frames in the process.

Just what you expect from the JLF; choosing to take out the Britannians with them. We're going to rush to Cornelia's position head on! Forget about everything else! All that matters is achieving our goal! If you want to avenge the JLF; then capture Cornelia! And show them our strength and determination!

Lelouch declaration repeated in Nanoha's head as a teary eyed woman sat on her bed muttering.

"Why did he have to do this?"

It was a stupid question, but still it wasn't an easy pill to swallow. Part of it was because Nanoha was fearful for Lelouch's safety worried he might get himself killed with Nunnally losing her beloved brother. Furthermore she sympathized with Lelouch, especially as she attempted to visit one of her old friends on Earth before they left.

What she found unsettled the young woman greatly.

Suddenly a knock the door interrupted her as Lindy spoke through the intercom outside.

"Nanoha, could I have a moment?"

"Sure, you can come in."

The door opened as Lindy walked in and took a seat near Nanoha.

"I am sorry about the meeting a few days ago; I said what needed to be said because I wanted to see how Lelouch would react. I know from the observation reports that he presents himself different, so I tried to bring out the real Lelouch with what I said to him."

"I know, but I know why he did it but I just…"

"Things in Japan just got worst in ways no one could have foreseen. The worst came after Japan became Area 11."

"I tried to find my friends Suzuka and Alisa, but their homes were gone. I…" Nanoha began as the thought of her friends' dead or worse was a possibility she didn't even want to consider, but the young woman knew it was a possibility.

"You don't know for sure what became of them, but they could have left Japan."

"I know, but," Nanoha sighed as she truly wished for the safety and well being of her friends. Yet why did she feel so uneasy about their fates.

Meanwhile in another corner of the ship someone else was taking a more direct approach to the problem as in the cell where C.C. was being kept the green haired woman had an unexpected visitor. Vita walked in carrying her weapon in hand while glaring at the green haired woman. Her grip tightened on the handle of Graf Eisen as anger flared within the small girl. Seeing Nunnally break down completely after the meeting last night was heartbreaking to watch, but seeing her Mistress Hayate saddened and hurt by seeing her best friend in such a state enraged Vita.

But she didn't blame Lelouch, no her anger was directed at the person who gave him the Geass Power in the first place enabling him to do all of those terrible acts.

Hayate and Nunnally were best friends; their friendship was especially strong since both girls were confined to wheelchairs which gave the young ash-blonde hair girl someone like her to interact with. In fact Hayate and Nunnally used to have wheelchair races, an idea the brown-haired Japanese girl came up with to devise games that Nunnally could be a part of since her disabilities prevented her from taking part in most activities with Nanoha, Fate, Suzaku and Lelouch.

Although Hayate did regain her ability to walk after she and Nunnally parted ways the two girls were still friends.

Yet their reunion was anything but happy, because Nunnally was devastated to find out her older brother had been carrying out acts of terrorism behind her back and even killed their older half-brother Clovis la Britannia. Vita knew all of this was caused by the green haired woman before her who had a surprisingly passive expression on her face, but seeing it angered the small red-head child even more.

"What do you want?"

C.C.'s words brought Vita out of her line of thought as she gave the green haired woman her undivided attention.

"It's your fault, Lelouch becoming what he turned into because you gave him the power of Geass."

"Oh, so what's your point?"

"My point, MY POINT," Vita shouted as she was on the verge of losing it.

"Lelouch would have died during the incident that happened at the Shinjuku Ghetto," C.C. began as she revealed to Vita the story how Lelouch met her and received his Geass. "At the time he saw Suzaku shot in the back and supposedly killed and he would have been killed himself if I hadn't given him the power. After the Orange Incident I caught up with him and he told me he would have made his move to destroy Britannia even without the power of Geass."

Vita was angry and was trying to fight off the impulse of wanting to attack the girl before her, but to restrain herself she changed the subject, "I heard about the other person you gave a Geass to, Mao wasn't it?"

"Oh so you know about him."

"The Bureau has been monitoring Lelouch ever since the incident at the hotel when he unveiled his Black Knights to the world, so yeah we know about him."

"I see so you are aware of what he was doing then and what his power was?"

"Yeah, but you want to know something the Intelligence Department did an investigation on Mao and would you like to know what they found out," Vita began as she saw the report on Hayate's desk last night. Out of curiosity Vita read the report over and found out the background information the Bureau had dug up on Mao including on the town from which he originated from. "At the time no one could explain what was happening, but a string of murders, rapes and a lot of suicides were happening in this town. The Bureau even took notice, but even they couldn't figure out what was going on. They thought magic or Lost Logia was involved. Then finally the town was wiped out completely when the last residents who refused to leave were killed by someone poisoning the water the supply. It was a mystery to the TSAB until Mao went after Lelouch to get to you."

"I see so you realized then that Mao was the one who used his Geass power to wipe out the residents of that town before finishing off those would either didn't die or leave by introducing what I suspect was a poisonous organophosphorus agent."

"You knew he was doing this, so why did you allow it?"

"Not at first, but overtime I began to suspect what he was doing until finally he confessed what he did. He was cleansing the town of those who were dirty so I wouldn't be contaminated," C.C. replied with a matter of fact tone while Vita was horrified rendering the red-head girl speechless as the green haired important went on to say. "How he handled the town was simply, for example let's say there is man with a secret he doesn't want anyone else to know about. If you can find out the details of that secret it would be easy to control that man in any way you want."

Vita wasn't sure what to say, but she did recall seeing that in the footage of Lelouch's confrontation with Mao who had used his Geass power to manipulate Shirley in a similar fashion.

"Now let's say there is a man who hates someone so much that he wants to kill that person. If you could find out the details of that hate then only a few words could make that man commit the murder. But now let's say there is a man who has an abnormal sexual propensity. If you knew the details it would possible to manipulate just a bit to make that man act upon his fantasies…that is what Mao did. As you can imagine paranoia from all of those incidents in which Mao engineered caused people to leave the town, but those who remained Mao got rid of them. He had no look of regret or remorse in his eyes," C.C. said as Vita was no longer looking at a woman…she saw a monster with green hair.

"You're a monster," Vita muttered as her whole body was trembling as she just wanted to kill C.C. and put the evil monster down who unleashed the worst qualities within Lelouch. "Why, why do you give these people Geass, JUST WHY?"

"Why," C.C. replied with a mocking smile.

"Tell me!"

"Its because I am C.C. and there is a wish I want granted, Mao became incapable of granting it and now Lelouch might have a better chance at making it happen."

"All of that just for a wish," Vita said as all restraint left her and she raised her mallet intending to kill the girl. But before she could deliver the killing blow, Signum intervened and stopped the red-haired girl while struggling to hold onto her.

"Control yourself Vita, heaven knows I believe this witch delivers it," The pink haired older girl said trying to calm her fellow Wolkenritter. "You need to restrain yourself please, let Mistress Hayate handle this."

"I got this," Hayate said appearing at the cell door with a smile on her face as the brown-haired girl's appearance caused Vita to calm down. "As I am sure Vita has revealed we are aware of the actions of Mao and the fact that you granted both Mao and Lelouch their Geass powers. But with someone like you running around we would like you to tell us everything."

"Not even Lelouch could get me to tell him what he wants so what makes you think you'll do better?"

"Oh I know you are immortal and all, but I have reviewed the observation and investigation reports we have on you and I might have a few ideas we could use to coax your coöperation," Hayate said with a heavenly smile. "But I won't hold back, because of you Nunnally cried her eyes out for what happened with Lelouch…you will talk."

"I doubt that," C.C. replied smugly.

"Oh you will I have some ideas and Vita you are welcomed to help me," Hayate said while Vita smiled at the thought.

Meanwhile watching the ship begin last docking procedures from the control tower at the spaceport was man in his late forties with military cut-brown hair with a beard wearing a blue and white uniform bearing the rank of Lieutenant General upon it. Standing behind him was a younger woman with identical hair color wearing a similar uniform, but she was of a lesser rank.

"So onboard is the infamous Zero," Regius Gaiz commented.

"We have prepared a proper holding area for him, but are you sure we shouldn't be keeping him at an orbital prison?" Major Auris Gaiz inquired.

"Technically he isn't under arrest, so until his fate is decided he is more under the protective custody of Time-Space Administration Bureau unofficially," Regius explained to his daughter.

"Pardon me sir, but I don't think I understand?"

"At this moment the higher-ups are deadlocked on what to do with Lelouch and I am sure you can understand why. The Bureau doesn't involve itself in the local affairs of developing worlds and this terrorist Zero is considered involved in their affairs, but he has come into possession of a potent mystical power which cannot be ignored by the Bureau especially given recent events involving that other young man wielding a Geass power that makes him appear as someone else in the eyes of others when active. Furthermore from what we have discovered about the second Geass wielder Mao, who possesses such a powerful Geass, can cause considerable damage, if the actions of Lelouch didn't already reinforce that possibility."

"That sounds confusing," Auris admitted.

"I agree with you, but the higher-ups have been considering the matter on Earth. Admiral Harlaown hasn't been told yet, but the situation on Earth has gotten worse. Also our intelligence operatives on Earth have informed us that unknown assailants are collecting more jewel seeds."

"What, but I thought we had them all?"

"Apparently there were more that are yet uncounted for, so right now we can't be sure just how many our enemies have in their hands. But the chaos, riots and fighting happen across the Earth has made it almost impossible for our intelligence agents to attempt to find and secure any of the Jewel Seeds."

"Then could all of the chaos and war happening on that planet be caused for the sake of acting as a cover," The young woman asked.

"That is what Intelligence believes and considering the evidence I agree with their assumption."

"Then what exactly are the higher-ups proposing should be done?"

"Given that Lelouch has dealt with another Geass user like Mao some of the higher-ups are considering making use of him," The military officer said as he had some ideas in ways they could use Lelouch.

"What exactly are they proposing?"

"Well other than possibility pardoning him for any possible crimes he could be held accountable for, however there is something of a test they wish to conduct. I am making arrangements for us to spend the afternoon in the company of the young man. Here are the details, just be sure we pick him up," Regius said giving a document to his daughter.

"I'll take care of the preparations."

Being escorted off of the ship Lelouch was being watched by Nanoha and Fate, but as a precaution should Lelouch attempt to flee a tracking device was attached to his left ankle similar to a GPS tracking device. Hayate, Vita, Signum, Nunnally, Sayoko, Shamal, Chrono and Lindy left ahead of them while Lelouch was going to be taken to a safe house until the Bureau made up its mind on what to do with him. Ever since they had left the ship the former Britannian prince was quiet, not even Nunnally has spoken to him since discovering he was Zero, but no one knew what Lelouch was thinking.

He causally looked around and saw the alien world he was on now and didn't utter a single word, even during the drive across town in a taxi taking them to the safe house which was set up as a rented room at the Hotel Augusta located in the south-east area of Cranagan.

Back on Earth hidden in an underground city located somewhere in the Tengger Desert within the Chinese Federation's territory a young ten year old boy with blonde hair that was longer than his body hanging along the ground dressed in white and gold trimmed regal clothing while wearing a black cape with a purple interior. His crimson eyes stared angrily at the screen before him displaying a news report that outright unsettled him.

"Charles zi Britannia along with the Knight of One have been confirmed assassinated by an unknown party, but also we have learned that Odysseus eu Britannia the crown prince was also reported to have been killed," The male newscaster reported before pausing. "Although it's undecided who will assume the throne, but investigators believe that the one behind the assassination was a member of the royal family who masterminded the assassination so the coronation of a new Emperor has been postponed until the investigation is complete and a new heir can be decided with rule of the Empire being handled by the Imperial Senate for the time being. Also rumors of increased violence and tensions between members of the royal family have been reported as well in light of the sudden death of both the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

V.V. angrily threw the remote at the large wall screen monitor as his ally and younger brother was dead, although he had a strong suspicion of who was responsible but he lacked the means to hunt down and retaliate against the one responsible.

With Charles gone and Britannia on the verge of a vicious power struggle among the members of the family how can we complete the plan without securing the rest of the thought elevators?

As the blonde haired immortal considered possible solutions to the problem he was facing a violent tremor shook the office the young man was occupying.

"What is going on?" V.V. demanded as he activated an intercom built into his chair communicating with one of his subordinates, but the man on the other end sounded panicked.

"I don't know sir…we're being bombarded," The man replied while V.V.'s eyes widened in surprise.

"Bombarded by what," The blonde haired immortal demanded.

Above ground hovering over the location of the Geass Order's headquarters a large arrowhead-shaped ship, at least three kilometers in length, appeared suddenly after disengaging a type of cloaking and sheath system that hid the ship from all eyes as it bombarded the Geass Order with mass-based weaponry as each shot pierced the ceiling of the underground city sending rock and debris falling down upon it while shots that penetrated the ceiling struck areas of the city below destroying at least three to four blocks with each shot.

Within the ancient battleship at the control center of the ship that appeared as a large spacious throne room with large holographic screens showing the world outside and the underground city being attacked by their surprise bombardment. Orpheus was standing near the throne where his mysterious master and benefactor sat quietly watching the attack.

"Begin Phase Two of our attack, group one will enter from the bullet train railway while the rest will enter from the main entrance after our initial bombard ends. Kill anyone you find, but bring V.V. to us."

Before Orpheus was a group of cloaked figures numbering at least seven who bowed before leaving the throne room. Sitting on his throne the man who was the mastermind behind all that has happened so far couldn't help, but smile as he knew his plans were coming closer to fruition. He had the twenty-one Jewel Seeds held by the Bureau, but all he needed now was the remaining nineteen jewel seeds to achieve his primarily goal.

Very soon all of the pieces will be in place, very soon.

Orpheus himself watched with a certain amount of satisfaction as he saw most if not the entire underground city in flames with its residents either dead or dying at that moment. Just not long ago he helped killed the Britannian Empire and right after that he personally executed Oiaguro Zevon and his four subordinates from the Pluton who had burned down the small unmapped village in southern Hungary Orpheus and his lover Euria, a fellow-Geass user who had escaped the Order with him. His own uncle was sent in on orders from Charles zi Britannia and V.V. to kill them, but at the price of Euria's life Orpheus lived while the woman he loved died in his arms whispering her final words to him.

Please live Orpheus…

Euria…I will live, and I will make sure V.V. pays for what happened.

Once he got his hands on V.V. his revenge would soon be complete, but still he felt it wasn't enough he wanted to see all of Britannia in flames.

It will happen all of Britannia will burn and I don't care if the rest of the world burns with it.

Meanwhile back on Mid-Childa the taxi transporting Nanoha, Fate, Signum and Lelouch arrived at the Hotel Augusta. The trio discreetly made their way to their room, Lelouch settled in the third bedroom after they arrived in the penthouse as the black-haired young man threw his flushed body upon the bed staring up at the ceiling. Nanoha sat down in a chair by the dresser near Lelouch's bed looking at the young man, but after five whole minutes of an uneasy silence between them the former prince spoke.

"I know you want to say something to me Nanoha, so go ahead."

"To be honest I am not sure what to say, I know what you did was for Nunnally sake. But I do wonder if there was a better way, but," Nanoha began as she allowed her sentence to trail off.

"But you know as well as I do that there wasn't."

Nanoha didn't answer, but the look of doubt on her face was the only confirmation Lelouch needed.

"At least tell me why you killed Clovis, your own half-brother. Was it just because of the incident at the Shinjuku Ghetto, revenge, both or something else?"

"All of the above I would say, but it true that I did kill him for the innocent people he ruthlessly slaughtered and I did shoot him because he was a child of the Britannian Empire. However my third reason for killing him was linked with the first…I didn't shoot him to avenge those he had murdered in cold blood, but rather I shot him knowing if I had allowed him to live he would have exploited me and Nunnally."

"Huh you mean?"

"Consider for a moment the lengths he went to when the capsule containing C.C. was stolen. He ordered the entire annihilation of a whole Japanese Ghetto to wipe out any potential witnesses along with those responsible. He did it all for the sake of preserving his position, so imagine what he could have done with me and Nunnally if he knew we were alive?"

Nanoha realized what Lelouch was getting at as the young man continued.

"Yes either he would have exploited us, but he would have easily have sold us out for the sake of his own prestige."

The young woman was taken back, but she did see why Lelouch saw it necessary to kill him. However did it really mean it was ok to do so?

Fate and Signum were standing at the doorway listening in on the conversation and Fate wasn't sure how to respond, the blonde haired woman couldn't approve of Lelouch's actions but she did understand why he did it. Yet like Nanoha she tried to think if there was not a better way to give Nunnally the world she wanted without so much bloodshed. If a future is created and handed to someone like Nunnally with bloodstained hands then just what kind of future would it be like?

Could she even accept the peaceful world Lelouch created for her knowing if so much blood was spilled in its making?

The blonde haired woman considered this question as she recalled the conversation Hayate and Fate had with Nunnally the previous night.

It was in the lounge where Fate, Hayate, Vita and Nunnally were playing a game of Sumo Tops with Sayoko and Shamal were watching. It was one of the games the group played together as children along with various card games such as Blackjack, Gold Fish, Sevens, Old Maid, Cheat and Scum. Lelouch was the best at Cheat and Scum while Suzaku was surprisingly lucky with Blackjack, Nanoha was good at Old Maid and Fate was a pro at Gold Fish.

"Go," Shamal announced as everyone deployed their colored Sumo tops dropping them into an arena that was slightly slanted. Vita's sumo top was red in color while Hayate's was purple, Fate's top was yellow and Nunnally was pink. The four tops spun on their own for a few moments before the tops collided in the center of the ring clashing against one another for a time.

It was close but Nunnally's top beat Hayate's after the other tops stopped spinning.

"Did I win?"

"I am mortified to admit it but I lost and you won," Hayate said while Reinforce Zwei appeared floating near her master's left shoulder, the small being began patting her master on the shoulder apologetically.

"It's ok Mistress you still have your victory at the wheelchair races," Reinforce Zwei said trying to console her master.

"Maybe we should have one," Hayate suggested with a smile.

"But you don't need a wheelchair anymore right Hayate-chan," Nunnally asked.

"Yes, but for you let's have a race for old times' sake."

"Ok," Nunnally replied happily while Shamal spoke to Vita in a soft voice.

"Let's make sure we can manage Nunnally-chan's wheelchair otherwise we could have a repeat of what happened seven years ago during the last one."

"You mean where Lelouch got ran over," Via asked while Shamal nodded.

"Yes poor Lelouch-kun," Shamal mentioned, but soon realized her mistake in mentioning Lelouch's name as Nunnally became saddened once more. "Oh I am sorry."

"Why does my brother have to do all this, it's not what I asked for, but all I want is to be with my brother," Nunnally said sadly as some tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Your brother loves you Nunnally-chan there is no doubt of it, but I wish that he could have chosen an alternative instead of well," Shamal began but her sentence trailed off at the end.

"I know, but," Nunnally said before she began crying while Fate watched the scene sadly, but at that moment she had answered her own question.

She probably would have been able to live in the peaceful world, but I think Nunnally wants it both ways…but…it doesn't work like that. I think like your brother you are a little selfish, but unlike him you are a little too sheltered to understand.

At the same time and known to everyone else Signum was entering the hospital room Lelouch was in which was doubling as his cage while on his head was the anti-Geass device that blocked the use of his Geass power. Once the pink haired woman had entered she closed the door behind her and approached Lelouch's bed side.

"You've changed Lamperouge." said Signum as she pulled up a chair to sit down by his bedside.

Lelouch smiled at the comment before saying in response, "You too? I always thought you'll be the first to chastise me for everything I've done."

"And you are still that same delicate little boy from before."

"Hey," Lelouch said before laughing a bit. "Cut me some sack alright."

"It's true your methods are something Nunnally could never accept and the fact that you named your resistance organization the Black Knights. With that in mind it has me a little disconcerted, but I honestly don't know if I could have done any different if I was in your position."

"I don't exactly see you as the type of person who would have done what I have done," Lelouch replied.

"True, but I confess there were times when we did things for Hayate-sama that went against her wishes. In the past before we met you we did things that brought us into conflict with Nanoha-chan and Fate-san."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Signum began as she explained to Lelouch everything about the Book of Darkness incident that had happened and was concluded before the group met Lelouch and Nunnally. Lelouch discovered just exactly what Signum and the other Wolkenritter really are.

"Wow," Lelouch said as he didn't know what else to really say about it after Signum finished telling Lelouch of the entire Book of Darkness incident. "That is quite the story, but I find it hard to believe that they would consider Hayate a criminal."

"It's easier to blame a person than an object," Signum answered sadly.

"You have a point," Lelouch said before asking. "So what will happen now?"

"Well until they decide what to do with you, both you and Nunnally will be kept in protective custody."

"I see," The former prince said before Signum asked.

"Do you regret your actions?"

Lelouch considered that question very carefully for a moment before he answered.

"Some…there were some people I wish I didn't have to involve or get caught in the crossfire. But knowing what I am fighting against there are some things that can't be avoided."

"I assume you waged your war against Britannia aware of this fact."

"I considered the possibility of civilian casualties yes, but…at Narita my landslide I created to damage the Britannian Army claimed the life of Shirley's father. I didn't anticipate the possibility of the landslide being that destructive in which it would wipe out the town at the base of the mountain although the town was fortunately evacuated yet not everyone got out in time," Lelouch admitted and he did regret what Shirley ended up enduring in the aftermath with Mao. "It didn't stop there though someone else C.C. should have told me about inflicted more damage on that man's daughter."

"Yes I saw the report on that; Mao used his Geass power to manipulate her mind into killing you. But then you used your Geass to erase her memories of you."

"Yes, because even if she somehow forgave me it wouldn't be the same. She was falling apart and I regret what I did, but," Lelouch said as he looked depressed as the sound of Shirley screaming at him not to do it echoed in his ears.

Signum looked at Lelouch with a solemn expression.

"But as for the others who died enemy and ally alike and those whose lives I sacrificed to achieve my goal, the fact is humans eventually die," Lelouch began with a sober expression. "Its fine to mourn death, but one needs to understand that true mourning was to apply those deaths. If the bloodshed created a shinning result, those deaths would not be wasted. It's why I don't hesitate to take life and I didn't fear how much blood I would shed."

"That is where the significance of the existence of the king, a ruler lies," Signum said suddenly surprising Lelouch. "Humans, the subjects under the rule of their king, lived and eventually died as they pleased. A person who is true king can give direction to trackless life and change it into something more meaningful."

"That is an interesting saying, but I have been using lies to achieve some of those results."

"Then if you wish for a way to redeem yourself to your sister then why not turn your falsehoods into the truth."

"What," Lelouch said genuinely confused.

"You told the world a lie when you proclaimed you were a knight for justice. Why don't you live up to that lie by trying to become a true knight for justice? Then you'll have the lie going, to the very end."

"Live up to the lie now that's ironic, my whole life up until where I got the power of Geass was nothing but lies so now you want me to live up to the lie that is Zero I created?"

"Right now you are in the abyss that lies between good and evil, but if you can climb out of that abyss and into the light, then you Lelouch Lamperouge have the soul of a king."

Without another word Signum left the room leaving Lelouch deep in thought.

Returning to the present Fate was also looking at Lelouch, but in her mind she was being haunted by someone through the memories that had been implanted within her and the life she lived after she was awakened, she saw Lelouch teetering on the edge of the terrible abyss where her mother and creator Precia Testarossa.

Lelouch was in possible danger of falling into that abyss upon which the woman she knew as mother went mad and Fate feared for the young man.

A/N: among some of the characters Hayate's friends in particular Signum are more understanding of what Lelouch did and why in light of the things they had done behind Hayate's back during the Book of Darkness incident. Granted what they did was more toned down compared to Lelouch while serving Hayate, but still…if anything they were more concerned for the possibility of Lelouch getting killed. Things will get interesting next chapter as we all know Hayate isn't the type to harm anyone so how she'll get C.C. to spill everything should be interesting as Vita will unleash her inner problem child.

Also let's not forget that Regius has a theory to test with Lelouch and that will be revealed next chapter with a surprising revelation.

I thank you all in advance for the reviews and see you next week for the next chapter.