One Last Shot at Life…One Last Shot at Victory

Stage 9 "The King Makes a Move"

A/N: Heyyyy, it's KazeRose, but of course you all knew that –giggles-So, I apologize for the elongated wait…kind of annoying, no? Anyway, I will try to be more prompt with this chapter, and hopefully this one turns out slightly better. I wasn't a big fan of chapter eight, but it was needed so I suppose I just need to deal with it. Haha, so I've been going through a rough time and I hope that doesn't affect my writing at all…if you notice it, just point it out to me and I'll try and cheer up the mood, okay?

So! Thank you all who review. It makes me smile…see? :) It's Kaze's cute wittle smile :).

GOMEN!!! Sorry for such the long wait! When summer break gets here, I'll update so much quicker, for now, just be patient with me, exams make it hard to write.

Yeah…now…I guess onto chapter 9.

Stage 9 "The King Makes a Move"

"Kallen Kozuki, step forward." The emperor of Britannia called his eyes steady and calm, his shoulders poised, and his eyes holding much authority. He was going to replaced God. He would be God. He watched at the red-headed pilot reluctantly stepped forward. A look of hate plastered on her face. "You know your charges, right girl?" No reply, the vermin, as he saw her, stayed silent, her head lowered, her sapphire eyes glaring at the ground. "Fine, then I shall read them. Kallen Kozuki, you are here by charged with the following felonies: treason, arson, attempt of assassination of a Knight of the Round, terrorism and for being a revolutionary. And your punishment is execution."

Kallen's eyes slid shut, slowly. Zero and the Black Knights wouldn't make it. She'd be dead before Zero could even call her name and say he loved her. It was over. She felt the cold of the metal of a sword pressed at her neck and she prayed. Prayed for forgiveness and prayed that Zero's dream of a new world would come true. "Forgive me…world."

"Any last words, Kallen Kozuki?" It was the Emperor who spoke, and Kallen didn't look up. She didn't need to see his cold, harsh, murderous face. She lifted her head slightly and glared at him.

"Yeah, all hail Zero."

The Emperor was taken back. How dare she, an Eleven, a half-blood, say that to him. The emperor of Britannia! Charles was appalled. Absolutely appalled. "Zero's not coming for you, girl," he hissed.

"That's where you're wrong, Emperor." The voice was strong and held authority, and Kallen knew whose voice it was, as did Charles zi Britannia. Zero had made it in time to save Kallen. He stepped forward, gun aimed straight at the Emperor of Britannia's head. His hand was held steady, too, like he had thrown aside who the man he was facing was. His father.

Charles whirled on his heels and faced the Glaston Knights and Knights of the Round. "Destroy them! Kill Zero! Get rid of those vermin who call themselves the Order of the Black Knights!" he roared. No one moved for some reason. They all sat, still as statues not even moving to cringe or wince. The only thing that moved were the lungs in each person, enabling them to breathe. "What're you waiting for?" He screeched, his voice getting high and frantic. "They'll stomp all over you if you don't move! Now MOVE!" He ordered firmly, voice still frantic and wavering. What was he getting so worked up over?

Zero didn't move. The gun was still pointed directly at Charles zi Britannia, and Zero had to find a way to get Kallen out of there as quickly, and safely as possible. To be honest, he really had no options left to him except to shoot, grab Kallen and run like hell. Or, he could distract the Emperor and Suzaku while Tohdoh or Rolo runs in and grabs her. Zero decided that he liked that idea much better. It was much easier to execute.

Moving a hand behind his back, Zero motioned for Tohdoh to go in, with his katana and get Kallen, unharmed. Tohdoh surely understood what Zero meant, or so he hoped.

Tohdoh noticed Zero's hand motioning for him to get Kallen. He kind of understood what his leader wanted, so he attempted. A fairly admirable thing to do. Tohdoh maneuvered himself stealthily around Glaston Knights and just regular military personnel. Slipping near the Emperor, Tohdoh gently grabbed Kallen by the shoulder and covered her mouth. "Stay quiet and with me." He ordered his voice low and whispery. Kallen only nodded. Once again, Tohdoh was making his way around the Glaston Knights and military personnel. He quietly finished his mission and passed by Zero, who was still stalling the Emperor.

"Charles zi Britannia, might I ask you a question?" Zero inquired, moving his hands magnificently likes he usually did. It was pretty much Zero's trademark. Charles just quirked an eyebrow, urging Zero to continue. "Why do you need such a vast amount of territory? I believe that Britannia should have just kept within their own borders. Conquering is a tactic from the early A.D's."

Charles smiled. It was a sinister, evil smile. It was one of those smiles that you just wanted to smack him for. So, in other words, it was a smirk. The clouds started to darken in the west and thunder sounded throughout the premises. A storm was coming upon them. "We need the land to unite the world, to create your sister's dream of a peaceful world."

"That's you idea of a peaceful world? Dominating countries that have the right to be free and branding them as numbered territories?" Zero demanded, his voice dripping with venom and outrage.

"Yes." It was a simple answer, but yet, it was enough to get the point across; enough to prove the Emperor's motives and true intentions.

Zero fixated his gaze to the ground. "And my mother," he whispered, so only Charles could hear him, "who killed her? Why didn't you try to protect her?"

"I was lied to. I had no idea until I heard."

"Right…" Zero growled. "So you play dumb, don't lie. You knew, didn't you?" Lightning flashed in the distance, illuminating the now pitch black sky, illuminating Zero's and Charles's bodies, showing their stances. The thunder followed closely after, and finally, it began to rain.

"Your mother wouldn't be happy with what you have become, Zero." Charles mused, pretending that he wasn't getting soaked to the bone by the onslaught of the summer thundershower.

Zero stayed silent, waiting a few seemingly long moments before he answered. "I know." He murmured softly. "She'd probably disown me…" he laughed coldly and hollowly. "But, now isn't the time for idle conversation, we have more important matters at hands, such as your death. Are you ready for it, Charles zi Britannia?" The young exiled prince raised his hand that held the gun. And he fired.

The shot rang out through the area. Birds squawked and fled the scene animals darted into safe hiding places until the danger passed. And Charles zi Britannia fell backward.

Zero turned around, clicking on the safety to his gun. "Let's go. We have Kallen so we have no other reason to be here. Let's go." Zero glanced back over his shoulder and looked at Charles's downed body. Was he really dead? It didn't matter at the moment and the Black Knights' commander faced his troops again, walking behind them.

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

Lelouch's Zero mask laid haphazardly on the table inside his private quarters, the sliding door to the balcony open, not even the screen door was shut and it was still storming. Lelouch stood outside, getting soaked by the rain, his elbows supporting the weight his head put on his hands. His hands, now gloveless, were folded together and Lelouch had leaned his head on them. He stared absentmindedly out to sea, the waves choppy and short, and lightning every so often flashing or striking above or at the water.

"Lelouch,"

The voice was easily recognized. Lelouch promptly ignored her and kept his gaze on the choppy ocean.

"Lelouch,"

The voice was more firm now, forcing Lelouch to groan and answer the person calling his name. "What do you want, Kallen?" Lelouch answered his tone unenthusiastic and bored sounding.

Kallen eyes narrowed in worry and she made her way toward him. "Are you all right?" She asked, jumping up on the balcony railing so she could get a good look at his face.

Lelouch nodded. "Yeah, though, he's not dead." His voice was flat and held no true emotion to it. He was like a corpse, except alive, and not cold and colourless.

The Guren Mark II's pilot just stared at her leader. "What? I saw you shoot him straight through the chest! He has to be dead Lelouch! There's no way anyone could survive that!" Her voice was frantic and full of disbelief.

"Believe it. He's immortal. It's because of Geass too..." Lelouch kept his gazed fixed on the choppy ocean in front of him. His bangs were plastered to his forehead, wet with rain.

Kallen stood up straight and placed a caring hand on Lelouch's hunched shoulder. "C'mon inside, you're going to catch a cold."

Lelouch sighed and stretched. "All right, all right." He turned and followed her inside his private quarters. Outside, in the ocean the waves began to turn and lightning illuminated the dark sky. The rain came down in heavy sheets, and Charles zi Britannia laughed.

A/N: GOMEN!!! Please forgive the lateness of this chapter!! The last bit I rushed a bit because I was getting so worried with time…I haven't posted in WEEKS and I hate waiting so why make my readers wait? I'll try and get all other chapters up much quicker than this one, but please be patient with me. Please click the review button please :) It's much appreciated.