One Last Shot at Life…One Last Shot at Victory

Stage 8 "The Souls Last Flight"

A/N: I like this title. I think it's kinda dramatic sounding, while depressing at the same time. I think chapter 9 is going to be called "The King Makes a Move" I like these interesting chapter titles…they keep things flowy…ha-ha flowy. Anyway, I got a review that I wasn't all too pleased with. It was one correcting me about my summary…yes I noticed those mistakes, just been too lazy to fix 'em. Now, I only corrected the mistakes cause, A. I had finished chapter 7 and was updating and B. I wanted to get that outta the way so I wouldn't receive anymore reviews like that. People, please, I usually catch my mistakes AFTER I post…I've noticed a bunch in my chapters that I'm too lazy to go back and fix. We're human. We make mistakes!

Sorry. Had to get that little rant out of the way. It was bugging me to death. Anyway, I apologize for the slow updating…ness…I'm back in school now and its harder to write with not so much time on my hands…sorry.

SO! I'm listening to Stories by Hitomi Kuroishi…such a pretty song. It's one of the Code Geass insert songs. Dunno how it's gonna flow with this chapter though. I'll find a way though! BWHAHAHA! Ahem, so, anyway, my biggest thanks to all of those who review!

Anyway, onto Stage 8 "The Souls Last Flight"

Stage 8 "The Souls Last Flight"

The rain pounded against the windows. It was a dark and dreary day, miserable to most of the Knights, and they were using this as a recuperation day…minus Zero, who was still working on ways to destroy Britannia for good. "Damn Britannians…" he growled, under his breath. He sat in his own private quarters, mask off and tossed to the side. The thing could get really annoying sometimes. Lelouch pushed some papers aside and stood up from his seat. Glancing out the window, he squinted when some lightning flashed in the distance. Nunally hated storms…and he gave it thought to go and check on her. After all, the Black Knights did rescue her from the clutches of the Britannians. The exiled prince sat on his bed and laid back, closing his eyes, allowing himself time to think. Would Nunally be safer in the homeland? "I dunno…" he grumbled under his breath. Lelouch rolled over onto his side and stared at the white wall in front of him. Was what he was doing for Nunally the right thing to do? He shut his eyes once more and let his mind drift off into the dream stage, eventually falling into a peaceful slumber himself.

****CODE****GEASS****

Kallen wandered around the United States of Japan's main operations building. Lelouch was no where to be found. "Lelouch?" Kallen called as she poked her head around a wall. Nothing. She groaned. Where was he? The red headed Knightmare started to wander the halls again, until someone called her name. She paused, taking the time to turn around and see who was calling out to her. "Whose there?" she demanded, cautiously, fingering the gun that was at her side.

"Kallen, c'mere…" The footsteps were getting nearer. Kallen gulped and took a few steps back, taking the safety off of her hand gun and cocking it.

"Whose there?" she demanded again, her hands shaking. The red-headed pilot raised her gun, her hands shaking. "Tell me who you are!" She shouted. "I won't hesitate to shoot!" Kallen's eyes were wide and her hands shook. There's no way anyone could get in here…Zero has this place so freakin' secured its not even funny.

The person stepped forward, lowering his own gun. He seemed fairly peaceful but Kallen couldn't tell who he was with his face masked in sunglasses and in shadow. "Kallen, don't you recognize me?" He asked. He was wearing a Knight of the Round's uniform…the Knight of One's uniform…Suzaku.

"What're you doing here?" Kallen spat, venom. "How'd you get passed our guards?" Kallen's voice started to get frantic and she was stepping backwards. How had Suzaku gotten passes the Black Knights?

Suzaku took one step forward. "Please Kallen, let's make this easy for me, and just come here. I promise I won't hurt you." He extended a gloved hand to the girl in front of him. "Come on Kallen."

"No…Suzaku…one step closer and I'll shoot…"

"Come on, Kallen…"

****CODE****GEASS****

"Lelouch, Lelouch, you need to wake up."

The sleepy Britannian groaned and rolled over, away from the annoying voice that was attempting to wake him up. If anything was that important, then it should be reported to Tohdoh, not him. That was Lelouch's idea at least. He jerked slightly when his pillow was pulled from underneath his head and the voice that was trying to wake him up started to scold him on how he slept too much. Groaning, Zero sat up and rubbed the sleep from his tired looking violet hued eyes. "What do you want?" he grumbled, glancing out the window to see if the storm had passed.

"It's Kallen, she's been kidnapped." The voice, which just so happened to be C.C's stated simply, like it didn't matter that Zero's ace pilot had been kidnapped. "She's being held prisoner and they've planned to skip the trials and send her straight to an execution, tomorrow at noon, and it's going to be broadcasted all over any Britannian territory."

Lelouch immediately woke up at this. "What? How did they get in here? Who was it?" He demanded his voice frantic. The dark-haired teen pushed C.C out of the way and grabbed his mask. "We're going to stage a rescue to get her back, have everyone ready as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir."

***CODE****GEASS****

"Kallen Kozuki, you are hereby arrested for treason against the crown, terrorism against the crown and assault of a Britannian lord and Knight. Are you ready to hear your punishment?" Charles zi Britannia looked up from his piece of paper that held all of the charges against Kallen on it.

"Do what you want with me. I won't tell you anything." She glared up at Britannia's ninety-eighth emperor. "You're a murderous bastard…and a power hungry fool." She hissed dangerously.

Charles sighed and handed the paper to Suzaku. "Suzaku, tomorrow at noon sharp, we are to execute her. You will be doing the honours since you brought her to me." The emperor leaned back in his throne and looked at the red-headed Black Knight in front of him. "What a spunky young lady…" he mumbled softly under his breath. "Lelouch needed someone like her in his life, too bad he's going to loose her."

"Sir?"

Charles glanced up at Suzaku who stood in front of him. "Yes, Sir Kururugi, what is it that you want?" His chin rested in the palm of his hand. Charles was honestly bored, but at least Suzaku had brought him Zero's ace Knightmare pilot.

"Would you like prisoner 1007 in solitary confinement in the lower cells or…" The emperor just waved him off, letting Suzaku know that what he had suggested was fine. "Yes, your majesty." Suzaku walked down the steps and grabbed Kallen by her upper arms. "Come." He ordered.

It was just like he had with Lelouch. The way his voice sounded made Kallen's throat burn. She was really starting to hate this man almost as much as she hated the whole empire of Britannia now. She felt him jerk her arms, forcing her to stand, and the pilot of the Guren Mark II made Suzaku, Knight of One, drag her all of the way to her prison cell. She didn't even notice when he gently placed her on the bed and walked out, whispering a "good night" to her. Opening her eyes, Kallen realized that Suzaku had been careless when stripping her of all of her possessions. She still had her phone. Frantically, she dialed Lelouch's cell phone number and waited impatiently for him to answer.

"Kallen? Is that you?" Lelouch asked through the phone, his voice frantic and distressed. He was really worried about her, and it made Kallen smile inwardly, knowing that Lelouch had been so worked up over her sudden absence.

Kallen nodded, not that he could see it. "Yeah, Lelouch, it's me." She paused, letting Lelouch sigh in relief. "And before you ask, I'm all right. I'm in one of the bottom floors of the mansion…where the prison cells are."

"I understand. Kallen, put up a fight, don't give up, all right? We're coming for you, I promise. I'll be there as soon as I can, just, hang on until then, all right?"

Kallen laughed lightly. "All right, I promise too, Lelouch. Hey, when you come and get me, can you bring me a smoothie, I've been really craving one." She smiled, wishing that Lelouch could see how happy…and relieved she was.

"A smoothie, oh, wow, Kallen, that just wasn't random at all." Kallen heard Lelouch laugh lightly from the other end of the line. "Yeah, I'll bring you one…what kind do you want?" He asked.

Lelouch's comment made Kallen snicker. "Strawberry banana, if you don't mind." She grinned and laughed lightly, imagining Lelouch rolling his eyes at her.

"Hey, Kallen, before I go, I have one thing to tell you." It was Lelouch who broke the silence between the two teenagers.

Kallen blinked slowly. "And what's that, Lelouch?"

"Be careful, hide your phone, and I love you."

Kallen's glowing sapphire eyes widened. He had just said that he loved her. Lelouch vi Britannia loved her. She allotted a few seconds for her mind to process what was just said to her, and then she finally spoke, after what seemed like an eternity to Lelouch. "Love you too…"

A/N: Oh my gosh, I apologize for the long wait for this chapter, high school's rough, ya know? Plus, since I am back in school and such I won't be able to write at the pace I usually do, and I do apologize for that, so, let's hope I can get chapter 9 up faster than 8!