Pre-notes: Now for some fun! There's supposed to be a fluff chapter before this one, but I was bored at work and this whole thing wrote itself in half an hour.

Disclaimer: Code Geass belongs to Sunrise. (Anybody noticed the pattern yet?)

Part 0.945: Desperate Measures

Tamaki Shinichiro lagged behind the Black Knights team that boarded the Avalon to turn towards the corridor he was instructed to take. The young Emperor had deliberately lost the battle so the Damocles could be boarded then detonated, along with it's cache of FLEIJA warheads. Now Tamaki was to meet said Emperor and switch places with him so the next phase of the plan may be set into motion.

"Tamaki."

He jumped then covered his mouth with both hands to keep from screaming out when Lelouch called his attention.

"I wasn't even that loud. In here. Hurry."

Once the door closed behind him, he was handed the robes and mask he was to wear. Lelouch was already dressed and only needed to wear Tamaki's face to complete the disguise.

"Hurry up and put those on. It won't take long before they notice you're gone," Lelouch said then moved to the door to listen for any approach.

Complying, Tamaki quickly undressed and went on to change into the robes. On reaching for the sash, something with blinking lights fell to the floor. He stepped on it without thinking (at all?), destroying it.

"Man, didn't you know this thing was bugged?!"

Lelouch took one look at the smashed piece of equipment and groaned.

"That was your voice changer, Tamaki."

Uh-oh.

Part 4.603: The Show Still Goes On

"Yes, Lelouch vi Britannia, I will be your Queen."

In the distance, in a position right beside the spotlight that illuminated the landing where the lovers had their exchange, stood a very ecstatic Diethard Reid. Wearing a grin that would put even that of the famed Cheshire Cat to shame, he filmed every moment that came afterward: from His Majesty placing the ring on Miss Kouzuki's finger, to the lengthy and passionate kiss that followed.

And so the legend of Zero continues.

"Diethard-sama," came a voice from behind him, "I'm afraid I will have to ask you to surrender that footage."

"Sayoko," he acknowledged his former agent as he slowly faced her. "Surely you would not employ force against your former superior."

"If it were possible, Diethard-sama, I would not," the Kunoichi replied, drawing her kunai. "However, if you would go against my current master's wishes, I have no choice but to do so."

Diethard was already running towards the grand staircase before Sayoko even finished her sentence, already beyond what he knew to be her throwing range. He had heard Kallen squeak when he leaped over the banisters to avoid the couple. Too bad he didn't pay attention to them - he would've noticed the smirk on Lelouch's face.

"Jeremiah!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" came a voice from ahead of him, and Diethard barely managed to stop in time to notice the blade trained at his neck. The form of Jeremiah Gottwald slowly appeared as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"Now, Diethard," came Lelouch's voice, approaching from behind him, "I believe you have something of mine."

"Z-Z-Zero," he began, trying to look at the young Emperor while keeping his neck from bending into the blade. "You, of all people, should understand why I'm doing this, right?"

Lelouch quirked an eyebrow as he moved to stand beside Jeremiah. "The show must go on. Is that it?"

Diethard grinned nervously at the reply. "Y-yes! The chronicles of Zero must continue until the day he dies!"

Lelouch sighed, covering the left side of his face with his palm. "Then you leave me no choice," he answered, removing his hand to reveal a glowing red eye.

"Lelouch vi Britannia commands you: hand over that footage!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," obeyed Diethard, handing over the disks (he already had backups?!) to Lelouch's outstretched hand. Jeremiah still hadn't lowered the blade.

"Thank you, Diethard. Kallen," he said as turned to face her, "I leave it to you to decide what to do with these."

Accepting the disks, she held out her other hand to Sayoko who, in turn, gave her one of her kunai blades. With one swift motion the disks were thrown in the air and were embedded in one of the clubhouse's walls a split-second later, the kunai piercing them.

Lelouch let out a low whistle. "Taking lessons, I see."

"Among other things," replied Kallen wearing a proud smirk.

"Well, then," said Lelouch, offering his arm for Kallen to take, "shall we proceed to the banquet hall, my Queen?"

Kallen curtsied before replying, "Of course, Your Majesty."

"Wait!" It was Diethard who spoke, his neck still at the tip of Jeremiah's blade. "When did you get your Geass back?"

"I didn't," came Lelouch's cool reply. "Surely you recognize the custom contact lenses I asked you to get for me last week?"

The newly-engaged couple did not turn back when they heard Diethard slump to the floor and the door closing behind them. Noticing the slight skip in her future husband's steps as they walked, she took a guess and asked to see if she was right:

"All according to plan?"

"All according to plan."

End notes: Another funny thing - the very first outtakes I had planned are the hardest to write. Go figure.

Date last edited: 2009/02/18