Another chapter in one time!
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Stage 4 His Name is Zero
その 名 は ゼロ Sono Na wa Zero
The Britannian youth, Lelouch, received a special power from a mysterious girl.
Geass.
An absolute power which allows the user to give orders to anyone.
Lelouch decided to plan the destruction of the Britannian Empire by using this power as a weapon.
His goals are to take revenge for his mother and create a world in which his little sister, Nunnally, could live in peace.
All while knowing that what lies ahead is his father, the Emperor of Britannia.
At least, that is what Lelouch desires right now.
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"Hey, that was Suzaku-san just now, wasn't it?" Nunnally asks with panic tone while Lelouch is picking her to her bed. "In the news, just now…"
"Yeah, Suzaku…," Lelouch confirms. "He's alive."
"Yes. After the war, we were separated. Even we…," Nunnally stops for a while. "Onii-sama?"
"What is it?" Lelouch asks.
"The news wasn't true, was it?" Nunnally wonders.
"It wasn't true," Lelouch tells. "There's no way Suzaku would do something like that. It's some sort of mistake."
"That's true," Nunnally holds Lelouch's hand.
"Yeah," Lelouch agrees. "So, good night, Nunnally."
"Good night, Onii-sama," Nunnally replies.
Lelouch leaves Nunnally's room and sees Yueria. She is in a middle of conversation by her phone.
"I know, I know," Yueria says without knowing Lelouch is there. "But there must be a way."
Yueria pauses for a second before says, "Let's talk about it after I come back."
"Sorry for waiting, Yueria," Lelouch talks.
Yueria turns with surprised, "Lelouch-kun!"
"Is that about Suzaku?" Lelouch sits next to Yueria.
"Well," Yueria stares blankly, "it is. I don't know about Suzaku-kun until I watched the news so I think I must figure a way to meet him and proof he didn't kill Clovis-sama."
"And then you will tell the others who the real murderer is?" Lelouch asks.
"No," Yueria looks at Lelouch, "I won't do that. It just…"
"I know," Lelouch cuts. "Sorry for that. I will figure a way to save him. I promise."
Yueria doesn't say anything but she smiles.
"Then," Lelouch continues, "may I know your purpose today?"
"Ah," Yueria says, "It's nothing. I just…"
Yueria stops for a while and Lelouch only waits for her words calmly.
"Maybe I just want to come here without any purpose," Yueria looks down. "I know I must not do this because it may harm you and Nunnally but…"
"Thanks," Lelouch says. "I'm really happy that you come here today and concern about me and Nunnally. Don't feel bad about it. It's alright."
"Anyway," Lelouch stands up, "I have a plan. Will you help me, Yueria?"
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"Yes, it should be just as you ordered it. It was done by someone here who's number one in the world. The slide system is also working," an old man speaks. "All that's left for me is to erase all the evidence and forget about everything, right?"
"Right," Lelouch leaves the room with Yueria.
"That's amazing," Yueria praises. "To use the power for 'that' plan."
"It's nothing," Lelouch replies. "You're the one who found the perfect place for the plan."
"My works are nothing without your plan," Yueria says.
"And I shall leave the rests for you," Lelouch smiles.
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"Mm, the essential part is gone now…," Lloyd stares at the Lancelot.
"Is there nothing that you can do?" Cecile asks.
"So it appears," Llyod says. "The other pilots are attached to something else and won't pilot it. Even if we could ask them, they wouldn't be able to produce the same types of results as him.
"Did I tell you? His operation efficiency was 94. Even if you get different part…"
"That's why, in order to free Suzaku-kun…," Cecile cuts in.
"He's an honored Britannian, right?" Lloyd wonders. "Ever since General Bartley's dismissal, the military has been controlled by the Purity faction."
"Purity faction? You mean the group that believes only Britannians should be in the Britannian military?" Cecile asks.
"Yes," Lloyd confirms. "Because it's him, I won't be able to speak against the Britannian military to get a criminal acquitted. But if the suspect were to be an Eleven, Jeremiah's intolerance would help abolish the honored Britannian system in Area 11."
"Then, Suzaku-kun…," Cecile looks sad.
"I don't think he'll be found innocent," Lloyd tells her.
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"Lelouch, what are you going to do after this?" Rivalz asks while all of the students just got back from a ceremony to hear speech about Clovis' death, including them.
"Our classes are cancelled, so how about that; thing we were asked about before…," Rivalz says.
"Don't gamble!" Shirley warns them.
"Don't say such strict things!" Rivalz looks scared.
"That's right," Lelouch says. "I'll stop it."
"Eh?" Rivalz looks at him.
"I've found a stronger opponent," Lelouch tells Rivalz.
"Hah?" Shirley mutters. "What do you mean by that?"
"Let me in on it!" Rivalz says.
Lelouch laughs, "You shouldn't concern yourself with this stuff."
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"To our visitor, Miss Kallen Stadtfelt of Ashford Academy," suddenly a woman's voice is heard from the speaker of ex-Tokyo Tower, "you have a lost item awaiting you at the service counter. I repeat…"
Kallen walks to the service counter and she receives a mobile phone from the woman of the service counter.
She walks away from the service counter and suddenly the phone rings; a call from someone written as Zero.
Kallen looks at Ougi, who is guarding her secretly along with another two people. Ougi nods as signal that is okay to receive the call.
"Yes, hello?" Kallen says.
"The fifth Kanjou train line, get on the outer track and bring your friends," someone says from other phone.
"Eh?" Kallen is surprised.
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"They will transport Suzaku-kun to the military courtroom tomorrow night," Yueria tells Lelouch on the phone. "Just like our predictions, there will be Sutherlands just in case to keep away any groups who want to rescue him."
"Ah, that's a good news since I'm doing the plan right now," Lelouch replies. "You will visit him today, right?"
"I guess," Yueria says, "it's only if I can pass the guardian. Well, good luck, Lelouch-kun."
"Good luck for you as well," Lelouch turns off the call.
‡‡‡‡‡
Kallen and the others are on the train, just exactly as the "Zero" person told to do.
The phone rings again and Kallen picks it quickly, "Hello?"
"Look to the right side of the direction side you're heading in," the person says. "What do you see?"
"A city of Britannians," Kallen answers, looking at the modern city. "A city of robbers, which stands because of our sacrifices."
"Then on the left side?" the person asks again.
"Our city," Kallen looks at the ruins of building. "The dry husks of a city which was sucked dry by the Britannians."
"Good answer," the person says. "Now then, come to the first car."
Kallen, followed by the others, walks to the first car. Oddly enough, there's no one in the first car and no one seem to concern about it.
Kallen stops her steps because she sees a person is standing alone with his back on them.
"Is it… you?" Kallen asks.
"It's not a trap, is it?" Ougi mumbles.
"Hey, what happened in Shinjuku and the order for a ceasefire was your doing?" Kallen mentions her question.
"Hey, say something!" the other talks.
The person turns back and he is wearing a black helmet like a mask and cloak.
"How was it?" he asks. "What are your thoughts on the tour of the city?"
"Tour?" Ougi repeats.
"Hey, so it was a ridiculous guy like this?" the other comments.
"I wanted you to have the right mindset," the person in mask says. "The city, the ghetto."
"It's true that a gap exists between us and Britannia," Ougi steps forward. "It's a hopeless gap. That's why, as a resistance…"
"That's wrong," the person cuts. "You cannot defeat Britannia with mere terrorism."
"Defeat?" Ougi mutters.
"Terrorism is nothing more than childish harassment," the masked man says.
"What?!" another says with anger. "Are you saying that we're little brats?!"
"Do not mistake who your enemy is. The enemy is not the Britannians; it's Britannia!" the masked man says. "If you are going to do it, then it's a war. Do not involve the civilians. Prepare yourselves. Weight out justice!"
"Don't joke around!" Kallen interrupts impatiently. "That's easier said than done. How can we believe the words of someone who won't even show his face!"
"That's right!" her friend agrees.
"Take off your mask!" the other adds.
"Yeah, would you show us your face?" Ougi asks.
"I understand," the masked person says. "Let me show you."
"However," he continues, "what I will show you is not my face, but my power. If I make the impossible possible, you'll believe me, won't you?"
‡‡‡‡‡
"Congratulations!" Lloyd speaks to Suzaku, who is being prisoned now. "The two people that you asked about weren't on the list of casualties."
"Is that so…," Suzaku feels relieved.
"But you are truly in an unfavorable position," Lloyd says. "Even when you go to the trial, no one will be on your side."
"But the courtroom is a place where the truth is revealed," Suzaku replies.
"I think the 'truth' is something that is covered up most of the time," Lloyd explains.
"If that's really how the world works, I don't want anything to do with it!" Suzaku says.
Lloyd only smiles before he stands up and leaves Suzaku.
"You have another visitor," a guardian informs after Lloyd went away. "You are really lucky that such honorable person want to visit you."
"Eh?" Suzaku looks at his visitor.
"Yu-Yueria?!" Suzaku mumbles loudly.
"It's been a long time, Suzaku-kun," Yueria smiles as she walks into front of Suzaku.
"Why…," Suzaku is confused with her sudden appearance.
"Open the lock and I want to talk with him," Yueria says to the guardian, "alone."
"But, Yue-Hime, that's…," the guardian resists.
"I'm the one who will hold the responsibility," Yueria says clearly. "It's an order."
The guardian looks unsure but he opens the lock and bows for Yueria before leaving her and Suzaku alone.
Yueria steps inside the jail and undone Suzaku's bond.
"Are you sure it's okay to do this?" Suzaku asks.
"You can say that this is my special authority," Yueria smiles. "Don't worry about it."
"Hime?" Suzaku remembers the guardian's word. "You are…" (Hime means "Princess")
"No, I'm not the Princess of Britannia," Yueria corrects. "I am Clovis-sama's fiancée. Well, or, ex-fiancée, you can say."
Suzaku kneels quickly, "My apologizes for my disrespectful manners."
"Suzaku-kun," Yueria says, "don't be like that. I'm still the same Yueria that you know."
Suzaku stands again and puts his hand on Yueria's cheek, "Yeah, you're always beautiful like usual."
"Eh?" Yueria doesn't catch Suzaku's words.
"No, it's nothing!" Suzaku blushes and covers his mouth. "Uhm, I'm really sorry to make you come here in this situation. Thanks for your concern."
"Well, I must visit my old friend, right?" Yueria says with sad expression. "Compared to your problem right now, I have done nothing."
"That's not true," Suzaku shakes his head. "You're always too concern about the others, aren't you?"
Yueria smiles and then says, "I will do what I can to proof you're innocent. I know you didn't do it."
"That will be a great help but don't overdo it," Suzaku says softly.
"I guess I shall take my leave now," Yueria talks. "I'm sorry but I must bind your hands again."
"Sure," Suzaku gives his back to Yueria so she can bind his hands.
"I'll see you again, Suzaku," Yueria steps outside of the jail.
"See you again, Yueria," Suzaku smiles.
‡‡‡‡‡
"It's nearly time! It's nearly time! Please look at this, the amount of people that are lined up along the roadside! Everyone is waiting!" the newscaster speaks. "They are waiting for the prime suspect of Prince Clovis' murder, the honored Britannian, Kururugi Suzaku, to pass by! A former Eleven! They are anxiously awaiting his arrival!"
"Oh, we can see them!" the newscaster tells as a vehicle that is surrounded by Sutherlands can be seen. "It's the suspect, Kururugi! Kururugi Suzaku will be here soon!"
"Murderer!"
"Idiot!"
"Damn Eleven!"
"Why?!"
"Go die!"
Harsh mockeries are spoken by all of the people to Suzaku.
"The voice of the people; the voice of rage is rising!" the newscaster speaks up. "It's the voices which show how much the Prince was loved; the voices of justice which judge the terrorist!"
"Sir Jeremiah, who aided in the investigation, is taking charge as the second-in-command," the newscaster informs.
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"It's really over-reacting," Frathia comments.
"Indeed it its," Frethia agrees.
Yueria only keeps silent while three of them are watching the television. She is deep in her thought.
"Three people to save Suzaku," Yueria thinks. "I believe your plan, Lelouch-kun."
‡‡‡‡‡
"That's right…," Lelouch wears every single thing he needs; cloak, gloves, and helmet. "I don't need a path that I can't turn back for."
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"Second commander Jeremiah," one of the military officer talks.
"What is it?" Jeremiah asks.
"A vehicle is approaching along the third street and headed this way," the military officer answers. "As ordered, we checked it out but…"
"Do you think that it's something of the terrorists?" Jeremiah asks for more information.
"Well, it is His Highness Clovis' personal vehicle…," the officer says doubtfully.
"His Highness?" Jeremiah repeats. "Huh, such an outrageous guy. I don't mind. Let him pass! All vehicles halt!"
By the command, all of the vehicles stop, making the crowd to wonder about what happens.
"There was no plan for them to stop here," the newscaster speaks. "Perhaps there was some sort of accident?"
"This is point five," another officer informs. "There is a car heading that way."
"Th-This is the personal vehicle used by Prince Clovis," people start to talk when a vehicle with Britannian flag appears.
"Can you see it?"
"No way... They're going in head-on?"
"What does he plan on doing?"
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Kallen drives the imitation of Clovis' personal vehicle with nervous, "With a fake like this, can we…"
She remembers about the conversation she had with the masked person…
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"I see, so it's just you two," the masked person says when Kallen and Ougi meet him at a garbage dump.
"Sorry, can you give us a little bit more time?" Ougi asks. "If I speak to them, then the others will…"
"No, two is enough," the masked man cuts.
"Eh?" Kallen is shocked. "Don't be stupid! How many enemies do you think there are?!"
"If you cooperate with me, we'll have reached our goal," the masked man shows a piece of paper. "Make this by tomorrow. It needs to look like this on the outside."
‡‡‡‡‡
The imitation of Clovis' private vehicle stops right in front of the Sutherlands.
"Come out, you insolent fools who defile His Majesty's vehicle!" one of the army officer commands.
Suddenly the Britannian flag is burnt and revealed a man with black helmet and cloak.
"I am…," the masked person announces, "Zero."
"Wh-Who is this person?!" the newscaster is surprised. "He calls himself Zero and he is standing against the procession! Who is this person named Zero?!"
‡‡‡‡‡
"Suzaku, I will repay my debt to you," Lelouch says in his mind after he announced himself, who is behind a black mask right now, as Zero.
"That's enough, Zero. You're finished!" Jeremiah speaks and released a fire as a sign for some Sutherlands to land on the street.
"Now, let's start by having you remove that mask," Jeremiah says.
Lelouch acts as if he wants to remove his mask but suddenly he clicks his finger then the box behind him breaks. An object that is looks exactly like the big object he and Suzaku saw when the Shinjuku incident is shown; the object that is said as a poison gas.
"What?!" Jeremiah is totally shocked.
"Sir Jeremiah, that's…," a girl named Villetta, who is the one Lelouch controls with his power at the first place when Shinjuku incident to take her Sutherland, talks.
Lelouch smiles from inside the mask and thinks, "That's right, Jeremiah. To you who has not seen what's inside it, it is a capsule full of poison gas."
"No, that's…," Suzaku tries to tell the others but the electricity controller around his neck doesn't allow him to.
"What's this?" people start to talk again.
"Can all of you in front of the TV screen see it?" the newscaster speaks again. "It appears to be a machine of some sort, but its purpose is still unknown. We will standby to hear the declaration of the man thought to be a terrorist, so please wait!"
"Th-This guy…," Jeremiah mumbles. "He took every Britannian civilian here as a hostage! Not only that but he did it without letting them realize they are hostages."
Jeremiah points his gun at Lelouch but Lelouch speaks calmly, "Want to try shooting me? You should know…"
"All right," Jeremiah lowers his gun. "Your terms?"
"An exchange," Lelouch mentions. "This thing for Kururugi Suzaku."
"Ridiculous!" Jeremiah says. "This man is charged with high treason for killing Prince Clovis. There's no way I can find him over!"
"No, you're wrong, Jeremiah," Lelouch corrects. "That guy isn't the culprit."
"The one who killed Clovis," Zero looks straightly to the television camera, "is me!"
"No way!"
"That guy?"
"Are you serious?" the crowd talk loudly again.
"Wh-What a turn of events!" the newscaster begins to talk again. "The masked man who calls himself Zero, er, we don't know the gender yet, but he has admitted that he is the real culprit! However, what will happen to the captured Private Kururugi?!"
"For the life of one Eleven, you can save many Britannian lives. I don't think that's a bad deal," Lelouch speaks.
"This man is crazy!" Jeremiah says. "You must pay for your sins of masquerading around in His Majesty's vehicle."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lelouch asks again calmly.
"I'll announce it…," Lelouch says, "orange."
"What's that? Orange?" people begin to wonder what 'orange' means.
Lelouch taps his feet two times and the vehicle starts to move forward again.
"It's set up so that if I die, I will be in the public spotlight. If you don't want that to happen…," Lelouch talks.
"What are you talking about?" Jeremiah doesn't understand. "What are you saying?"
Part of Lelouch's helmet opens, only to show his left eye and activates its power.
"Let us go, with all your strengths," Lelouch commands. "Do the same for that man over there!"
Falls into Lelouch's power, Jeremiah says, "Hmph, I understand. Give him that man."
"Sir Jeremiah, what did you just…," Villetta shows her disbelieved face.
"Give him that man," Jeremiah repeats his order.
"Huh?" Villetta acts as if she doesn't hear clearly Jeremiah's words.
"I-Is it okay?" the guardian, who points his gun to Suzaku, asks his friend.
"But…," the other is confused too.
"Hand him over!" Jeremiah shouts. "No one interfere."
"What is the meaning of this?" an officer asks. "There was no plan to…"
"Sir Kewell!" Jeremiah cuts in. "This is an order!"
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"We can't tell what exactly is happening from here, but it appears that Kururugi Suzaku's bonds are being undone!" the newscaster reports.
"That man named Zero is insane!" Frathia says. "Do you think he can escape from the Sutherlands?!"
"And what happened to Sir Jeremiah?" Frethia wonders. "He releases him so easily?"
"The impossible will be possible, I guess," Yueria mumbles with a smile on her lips.
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"Are they serious?"
"That man is a murderer!"
"What are you doing?!"
"Damn you!"
The mass' protests are echoing while Suzaku walks to Zero.
"Who are…," Suzaku's words are stopped by the electronic controller again.
"So it appears that you are unable to talk," Zero says.
"If we let them get away, we will be…," Villetta enters her Sutherland.
"Zero, it's time," Kallen says quietly to Zero.
"Well then, we will speak later," Zero tells and he presses a button, causing the big object to produce violet mist and people try to run away with panic.
"You damn Eleven!" one of the officer curses as he shoots with his Sutherland but it's stopped by Jeremiah.
Zero brings Suzaku along with him and they jump with the help from Ougi.
"We did it! With this…," before Ougi can get the victory, he is attacked by another Sutherland.
"Sir Kewell!" Jeremiah shouts out loud to the Sutherland who attacked Ougi. "Are you unable to obey my orders?! Anymore actions like these will be considered treasonous from this point on!
"Understand this; I will say it only once: let them go, with all your strength!"
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"They get away…," Frathia mumbles.
"It's really unexpected," Frethia says.
"Is it?" Yueria stands up and turns off the television. "We don't know what will happen next."
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"It appears that they treated you quite poorly," Lelouch says to Suzaku.
He still wears his mask and both of them are talking privately inside a building ruin.
"You know how they operate now, don't you, Private Kururugi?" Lelouch continues.
"Britannia is rotten," Lelouch speaks. "If you wish to change the world, then become my ally."
"You are…," Suzaku stops for a while. "Did you really kill Prince Clovis?"
"This is war," Lelouch answers. "Do you need a reason for taking the enemy's head?"
"And about the poison gas?" Suzaku asks a question again. "Taking the civilians as hostages…"
"It's a given that bluffs will be used in a negotiation," Lelouch explains. "Looking at how it turned out, no one died."
"The result…," Suzaku mutters. "I see, so that's how you think."
"Come to me," Lelouch reaches out his hand as Zero. "Britannia is a worthless country that you cannot use."
"That may be true, but…" Suzaku says, "that's why I'm going to change Britannia into a worthwhile country from the inside out."
"Change it?" Lelouch seems disbelieved.
"I don't think that the end justifies the means," Suzaku says as he walks away.
"Wait!" Lelouch calls him. "Where are you going?"
"In about an hour, the military trial will start," Suzaku tells.
"A-Are you an idiot?!" Lelouch clenches his fist. "That trial is rigged to judge you as the murderer! The police, the witnesses, even the lawyers!"
"Even so, those are the rules," Suzaku stops his steps. "If I don't go, the accusations against the Elevens and honored Britannians will begin."
"But you will die!" Lelouch is impatient.
"I don't mind," Suzaku says.
"You're an idiot!" Lelouch loses his patient.
"In the past, my friend told me that a lot: 'You're an idiot'," Suzaku mumbles.
Lelouch gasps; he remembers that he is the one Suzaku means as his friend.
"I suppose that's my weakness," Suzaku turns to face Lelouch that he only knows as Zero right now. "I want to capture you, but if I do that here, I would probably face retaliation. If I'm to be killed, then I would rather die for the sake of others."
"But, thank you for saving me," Suzaku turns his back again. "There's someone who will defend me at least and she said, 'See you again', so I will see her again."
Lelouch looks at Suzaku and he only can thinks, "You're idiot!"
‡‡‡‡‡
"We've made contact with the suspect. Zero must have let him go," Nunnally hears the newscaster from the radio. "But it's no longer certain who the original murder suspect is… Private Kururugi may be acquitted."
"I'm glad," Nunnally feels relieved.
"What should we do about it? The precious…," Nunnally stops to hear the radio since she feels someone is in the room too.
"Sayoko-san?" Nunnally calls.
A girl with green hair, who Lelouch met when Shinjuku incident, is standing silently in the same room as Nunnally.
How naïve…
I thought that Suzaku would understand…
He's going to change it from within the system?
Idiot! You'll only be swallowed up by that system!
You'll only be killed by it!
A lifestyle where I receive grace and charity…
I won't choose it!
I don't need to be ruled like that anymore!
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Next Stage:
The Princess and the Witch
皇女 と 魔女
(Kojo to Majo)