A/N: First and foremost, I do not own Code Geass. Greetings faithful readers : ) This marks the beginning of M rated content, taking place immediately after the end of the previous chapter. Honestly, I'm aiming to blow some minds here, with both story integrity as well as emotion. So please, let me know how I did. Also for those of you that haven't noticed, I'm posting my progress on my profile so you can all know how far along I am into the next chapter and when to expect it. I have no intention of putting an endnote on this chapter, so if you have the time, I would treasure a review from you. : )

Kallen, Casualty of War

*What? But who? How could they have been so stupid?* Lelouch was enraged, but he had to calm himself, for his sister's sake.

"Really? That is interesting; I think I'll go see if I can catch it on TV." Lelouch said with his best effort of a smile, she couldn't see it, but she could hear the smile in his voice. And with that Lelouch stormed off to his room. He ensured the door was shut and locked as he threw himself into his chair and turned on the television.

"The suspects are being held near downtown as a large crowd has already gathered to witness the execution of the prisoners held behind me. The execution is to take place at 10 PM tonight." The news reporter stated as the camera panned back to see the group of six girls in prison restraints, tied to a wall with their heads forced forward. The fourth in line was Kallen Stadtfeld.

Lelouch's heart hit a wall as he saw her there. *Kallen! This can't be.. but how?* Lelouch looked at the clock it was already 7:30. *I don't have much time.. I've got to think of a way out of this… Wait a minute, who are the other five girls? I've never seen them before in my life..* Lelouch brought up a hand to stroke his chin. *Perhaps they could members of Kallen's faction, but I thought I got a good enough look at most of them at the train yard... Only one way to make sure.* Lelouch quickly pulled out his phone and called the 'team' contact.

"Hello?" Ohgi answered.

"This is Zero, I was the voice from the train yard. Do you remember me?" Lelouch asked quickly.

"Yes, of course I do-" Ohgi began.

"What was your unit and number?" Lelouch inquired.

"B-1, if I remember correctly. Did you see what happened to Kallen?" Ohgi responded, his voice was very defeated.

"That's precisely what I'm calling you about. Were any other members taken or is she the only one?" Lelouch asked impatiently.

"What? Why?" Ohgi asked, still hooked on the fact that Kallen was going to die.

"Just answer my damn question!" Lelouch yelled. His voice calmed quickly remembering that Nunnally could be within earshot.

"No she is the only one I recognize in the group." Ohgi responded unsure of where he was going with this information.

"I see. I need to meet with all of you, as soon as possible." Lelouch spoke, his voice heavy and urgent.

"I understand, we're at the warehouse on 1640 East 32nd. Is there anything we can do for Kallen?" Ohgi asked, not sure if he should even be getting his hopes up.

"I'm on my way, do not do anything until I get there." Without another word Lelouch hung up the phone. "I've got to think I need a plan here..."

*If I didn't recognize any of the other suspects, and B-1 didn't either, that can only mean that they are innocent. So then why hold them as well? And how did they find Kallen?..* Suddenly it hit him, like a cork to the head. *Her name was said over the communicator! The rest of those girls must share her name.. That has to be it! This is an attempt to draw me out of hiding! But if I don't rescue her, who knows what they'll do to the captives. With Clovis dead, they just might kill all of them.. That's a risk I can't afford to even consider.. Perhaps if I just got close enough to the commander I could-* Lelouch for the person in charge of the executions, it was Villeta, he recognized her from when he got his geass and stole her knightmare. *Damnit! That means I can't use geass on her to stop the execution! How am I going to get her out of this?* Lelouch looked around his room for an idea, anything. His eyes finally rested on his closet.

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"What are we still doing here? It's been nearly 50 minutes!" Tamaki shouted. "Kallen's gonna die in less than two hours and we're waiting for some 'great voice' to show up?" He was pissed, his limbs flailing madly in the air.

Ohgi rested his head in his hands, perhaps Tamaki was correct. Maybe this Zero shouldn't be trusted. But what chance did they stand? "And what would you have us do? Look at all the Knightmares there. Even with the models we still have from the train yard, there's no way we could take on all of them. That's what they're waiting for, it would be suicide..."

"So, we're just supposed to sit and watch her die?" Tamaki continued.

"Not at all." Zero stated as he pulled open the heavy warehouse door. His cape fluttered behind him as he slammed the door shut.

"Is this the guy?" Tamaki asked in a hushed voice through clenched teeth.

"I am Zero." Lelouch confirmed. He was carrying a duffle bag in his right hand which he dropped onto the floor. "We have little time so I'll get right to the point. I have a wager for you." He extended out a gloved hand as if to give them something.

"A bet? You really think this is the time to be making bets?" Ohgi asked, insulted by Zero's sudden indifference in the matter.

Zero brought a hand up to his mask, as if to hide half of his already covered face. "I'm a gambling man, what can I say. The terms are this: I will rescue Kallen, when I'm victorious, I will demand your loyalty and trust. My identity is vitally important to this war and needs to remain my secret." Lelouch said confidently, with a smirk unseen.

"And if you fail?" Tamaki asked.

"I won't, but I leave your prize up to you. Anything you wish within my power will be done." Zero responded casually.

"That's not a bet, it's a one sided deal." Tamaki huffed.

"Skip all that, what about your plan Zero?" Ohgi asked getting impatient.

"My plan involves none of you. I couldn't risk it not working if any of you refused. Therefore, you are to remain here and bear witness to my power." Zero clenched his fist in a self righteous gesture.

"What? You plan to rescue Kallen from that death trap on your own?" Ohgi couldn't believe what he was hearing, that was physically impossible.

"I'm sorry I have no time to argue semantics, but I must be going. I'm afraid the curtain call draws near." Zero stated as he turned around and picked up his duffle bag, walking steadily towards the door.

"Hey don't you walk out on us!" Tamaki screamed to Zero's back. The door slammed shut in response.

Zero was hit the cool wave of night air outside as the gust flapped his cape in the wind. He walked around the corner and unzipped the duffle bag, inside was the soldier uniform he kept from the train yard operation. He slipped it on as quickly as he could in the shadows. The distant glow of the execution square loomed ominously over downtown.

Once changed Lelouch ran as far as he could down the barren streets before he became winded. His muscles screamed out in pain, but he had to press on.

Luckily the warehouse was rather close to the event as he could already see the crowd gathering and hear them chanting. It seemed nearly everyone in the area was going to be present tonight.

Lelouch came to a sudden stop as he heard a gunshot in a convenience store nearby. *What a stroke of luck* He walked casually up to door and watched as a man was robbing the convenience store at gunpoint. The robber grabbed the money and made a break for it, the clerk was still in shock on the ground. Lelouch was waiting just outside the door as the thief ran at him, raising the gun to his face. "Stop, you're going to follow my instructions very carefully...."

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Euphemia was watching the screen before her, it was focused on the public execution trial. Cornelia was watching intently as well.

"Sister-"

"I'll ask you to refer to me as Viceroy from this point on." Cornelia interrupted.

Euphemia harbored a look of sorrow, if only for a moment. "Viceroy, what if the terrorists attack?" Euphemia asked, not fully understanding the plan. Sometimes Cornelia scared her, even if she was her sister.

"If the terrorists do strike, they will all die. We have enough Knightmares on standby to fight an army. Even if by some miracle they do succeed in freeing a prisoner, we hold a complete set of data on each girl present. The target the terrorists focus on must be the member we're searching for. So it wouldn't be long before we captured her again and interrogated her. The main objective of this operation is to smoke out the one responsible for our brother's death." Cornelia said trying not to be condescending to her little sister.

*Whoever you are, I have you right where I want you. Make one move, and I'll eliminate you.*

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Lelouch, still in his soldier garb, exited the back of the news van casually. He looked directly to his right and spotted Kallen up on the execution block, she looked dead already. Wrapped up in a tight, dirty white outfit, all of her appendages were buckled into place so she couldn't budge an inch. Her head was also locked into position so she couldn't turn to look at anyone or try to hide her face. She was also gagged, to prevent her from screaming. It pained Lelouch to see her like this, the proud warrior without her fighting spirit.

The execution block was a raised platform to prevent any commoners or attackers from reaching it, all the lights and cameras honed in on them. Kallen's features were blank, her eyes were stoic. She wasn't even struggling with the straps that held her down.

*I suppose that's a good thing, don't want to raise suspicion. Do not fear Kallen, I will come for you. I will not simply watch while Britannia captures my Queen!* Lelouch's thoughts were malicious as he pushed his way through the crowd towards the nearest group of soldiers standing about 50 feet from the execution block. *With all the light in the area, most soldiers aren't wearing their masks. As anticipated.*

Lelouch came to attention beside the captain, reading his name badge quickly. "Captain Waugh, I'm Corporal Harland Davis reporting from the north end, I have a message for you."

The captain turned to him for a moment, "what is it corporal?"

"I just need a moment of your time.." Lelouch said, the geass power looked menacing in his left eye.

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Kallen could only see in front of her since her head was held in place with a thick black leather strap. She was sweating from the heat coming off the giant screen behind her and the lights beaming in her direction, the binding outfits didn't help either. She felt tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She was trapped, she couldn't even used her geass since she was gagged. Even if she wasn't she didn't know anyone's name, she was completely helpless, a state of being that cut her to the core.

*Will Lelouch come for me?.. How can he? Even he wouldn't go against these odds, not against an army like this.... No, I have to hold out hope. If he doesn't come for me, then that's it... I'm dead.* Kallen looked around trying to figure out what time it was, but by the increased cheer of the crowd she could only assume that the time was drawing near.

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Lelouch returned to the unit with a mask on his face, a new gun in his hand and Captain Waughs' name badge on his chest. He looked at his watch, it was 9:58. His heart quickened, his blood felt thick as he could feel it coursing through every vein in his body. *Show time.*

"Citizens of Britannia!" Zero boomed as his image took over the giant screen behind the captured women. Everyone gasped in awe as the masked man spoke. "My name is Zero. I'm the one responsible the death of Prince Clovis and he was only the first! He carelessly butchered 11s in his quest for dominance, and this is something I cannot allow! I will not stand by idly, as the powerful pass judgment on the powerless." Zero clenched a fist in front of his mask.

Cornelia narrowed her eyes and spoke to a direct link with Villetta. "Cut the transmission."

"We can't Vice Roy. That channel has been overwritten; we don't have access to it at the moment." Villetta regretfully informed, having already attempted to kill the feed.

Diethard watched the masked terrorist with a gleam in his eyes. Zero was the perfect specimen he'd been waiting for; an agent of chaos that could flip the world on its hinges and change the course of history itself.

"Even now, the royals pass judgment down upon the weak and defenseless. I can tell you right now, that one of those girls you see before you is my trusted ally. However, I can also tell you that five of them are not! They intend to murder five innocent lives to take a single one from me!"

"Damn you Zero." Cornelia smashed her fist into the arm of her chair as she was forced to watch.

Kallen did her best to maintain a normal expression. Lelouch really was coming for her! Still she dared not get her hopes up, her odds still seemed incredibly low. However, it warmed her inside just to know that he would go against such overwhelming odds for her, only her.

Zero's voice became very calm suddenly, it was ghostly and rather frightening. "I'm sorry but this, I cannot condone. I'm among you now, in this very crowd. Unfortunately I wasn't able to do this unarmed, but I wonder, how many innocent lives the royals are willing to sacrifice in exchange for mine?" The broadcast cut off as the crowd was suddenly full of bickering and squabbling.

A circle of space was quickly being formed about a hundred feet from the execution block. It was Zero, and he was holding a remote in his right hand, high into the air.

"Beneath this cape I'm strapped with explosives!" Zero shouted, his voice being carried over the news van's speakers. The crowd tried to run but even without all the panic it was very difficult to move anywhere. "Nobody move!" Zero commanded with authority and the crowd immediately stopped in fear. "I'm willing to exchange this remote in my hand, for the release of that woman!" Zero pointed to the second girl in line.

"Viceroy what should we do?" Villetta asked, not willing to make any call without an order.

"Viceroy, this is Captain Waugh. I advise we do as he says, even if we let her go, we can recapture her at any time. I can even have a small detachment of soldiers, including myself follow her. We can end this right here!" Lelouch spoke urgently over the communication unit.

Cornelia shifted her jaw in thought, "make sure you follow her unnoticed. Once she is in away from public eye capture her alive. I'll have some questions for her. After Zero makes the trade, shoot him. I won't tolerate failure here." Cornelia said, all eyes were on her.

"Understood Viceroy." Lelouch responded dutifully.

"Very well Zero." Villetta announced. "We will release the girl." Villetta gave the order and a soldier walked over and within moments released the second girl from the straps and buckles. Kallen looked ahead in awe, her face still restricted. *What could he be thinking? I don't understand.*

The woman ran as soon as she was free, the crowd parted as she sprinted down the street trying to get away as fast as possible.

Lelouch tapped two men on the shoulder and made the motion for them to follow him. They did as instructed and followed the direction the woman had taken. She got turned around in a state of panic and found herself a dead end alleyway.

Zero approached the execution block in front of all the other captives and without another word handed the remote over to Villetta. After she took it in her hand, Villetta shot him in the head.

The people were in shock at what had just happened, a mix of emotions boiled among them. Most cheered, others were rather disappointed that Zero was taken down so easily. It seemed that his statements were correct, the other girls were starting to be released.

Cornelia looked on shaking her head, equally disappointed. She'd been hoping for more of a challenge then that. "Zero.. What an incompetent fool you were."

Lelouch looked at the cross streets of the alleyway and turned his communicator to channel 219. "We need reinforcements at 30th and Walters." He was in luck there wasn't a soul around. The streets were completely abandoned.

Kallen screamed, as she turned around she was confronted by three armed soldiers. Her eyes and cheeks wet with tears.

"Hold your fire." Lelouch shouted, lowering his mask. He looked at the man on his right, "soldier…" The man on his right turned to look at him. "Don't move." The soldier was compelled to do as he was told by the power of the king. Lelouch then turned to the other soldier who didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary, his sights still set on the woman. With a muffled rattle Lelouch unloaded ten bullets into the left soldier's chest.

Kallen continued to cry as she felt her knees go weak and her chest tighten. "Now take this gun and shoot him in the head..." The geass commanded her as Kallen took the Captain's gun from Lelouch's gloved hand and fired three shots directly into the stationary soldiers face. The bullets connected with a sickening smack, followed by a heavy thud as the soldier's skull cracked against the pavement bellow their feet. Lelouch cringed slightly. It wasn't a sound he cared to ever hear again. Lelouch wanted to close his eyes but he couldn't, he needed to maintain eye contact to keep the woman under his control. Backing away he reached down to grab the gun that lay beside the second dead soldier. Lelouch's heart grew heavy with guilt, sinking all the way down to his stomach.

"I'm sorry Kallen… I'm sorry that I'm the one that has to do this… If I could be born into a different life, I would… I have no idea who'll be kept up waiting for you tonight, or who will mourn you tomorrow. But I do know this..." Lelouch held up the gun with a shaky arm, aimed at the woman's chest. Tears were now falling freely from his eyes. "I would never let them condemn you to a life of torture.. Britannia will pay for this, I swear it." Lelouch closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

Kallen was released from the geass, her eyes widened in shock as the bullets ripped into her, shredding her prison clothes like paper. She could feel all the foreign metal fragmenting inside of her as her body screamed out in silent pain. Her legs could no longer bear the weight of her own body as she fell backwards, staring at the night sky… It was a beautiful night to die. The stars glimmered with burning determination, like a million struggling candles, all alone in the dark. She tried to speak but blood was flooding into the back her mouth. Kallen wasn't sure what she'd wanted her last words to be, she'd never thought about it till now. She just wanted to say something, anything at all. All she could manage was a thick wet cough, an unfamiliar cold steadily spreading up her fragile body. Just as quickly as the pain had set in it began to fade. Her eyelids slowly became too heavy to hold up as she slipped away.

Lelouch couldn't stop his tears from falling, slamming his fist into the brick wall beside him. It didn't hurt, it didn't feel at all, not compared to what he was feeling. This was a million times worse than the guilt he felt from killing Clovis. She wasn't just another chess piece to him, she was a casualty of war, his war. He lowered the gun in his slick gloved hands, to once again rest in the second dead soldier's arms. His legs felt like tree trunks, taking all of the effort in his body just to take a single step.

The world was silent around him, his senses deadened. All he could feel was a steady pressure building in his gut and chest. Lumbering one heavy leg in front of the other, he walked over to the woman on the ground. Her long black hair fanned out like a web beneath her, the gaps of pavement slowly being swallowed by her blood. Lelouch took off the Captain's name badge and mask before resting them on her chest. He felt dizzy, but he had to leave as soon as possible. The pressure still building steadily, he could feel it in his throat now.

As he exited the alleyway, a man was sprinting towards him, a man he recognized. It was Captain Waugh, Lelouch closed his eyes and pressed on. He crossed the street and was nearly a block away before he heard the first gun shot, then the second, and finally the third. Lelouch could no longer hold the pressure in; he collapsed to the ground on one knee and vomited on the sidewalk…

Peeking out from around a corner, a woman dressed in loose white clothing watched him closely. He passed out soon after his collapse. She stepped out of the shadows her lime green hair shining dimly in the moonlight.

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Lelouch looked into the eye of the thief. "Stop, you're going to listen to me very carefully. You're going to take this remote and duffle bag to the execution just down the street. Stand in a crowded area, but not less than 100 feet away from the execution block. At precisely 9:59 you will hit the button on that remote, activating a recording. As the broadcast plays, you are to put on the outfit in the bag. Once the broadcast is over you will announce that beneath the cape you are wearing explosives, tell no one to move. Then, you will offer to trade that remote for the release of any single person on the execution block except for the female in this picture." Lelouch held up the picture of him and Kallen Stadtfeld, taken in the student council earlier that day. "After the woman you've chosen has been released, make the trade."

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Lelouch looked into the eyes of the Captain "I just need a moment of your time, come with me." Lelouch made sure to maintain eye contact as they walked out of earshot and line of sight. Which wasn't too far considering all the commotion, after all he only had to whisper to the man. Once away from the crowd he continued, "you are to follow my instructions exactly. You're to hand over your badge, mask and fire arm. Take this communicator, leave it on channel 219. Find a place to wait out of sight, but stay within a half mile of this spot. When I respond on this channel, you are to rush to the location I give as soon as possible, on foot. At this point, you will find your fire arm, badge and mask resting on a dead woman. After putting on your badge and mask, you will pick up your gun and fire three shots: one in your thigh, one in your gut, and one in your heart."